Byzantium Becomes the New Rome SOL 7A & B Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.

Refresher……. Just listen……

The Fall of the Roman Empire After the Pax Romana, the Roman Empire entered an era of decline The Roman Empire had a series of weak emperors Romans had a large trade imbalance (they bought more than they produced) As Rome grew more in debt, the military became weak & began using foreign mercenary soldiers

Emperor Constantine moved the Roman capital to Constantinople in the Eastern Roman Empire The Western Roman Empire continued to grow weak Text Emperor Diocletian tried to save Rome by dividing the empire

The Fall of the Roman Empire By 476, barbarians conquered the Western Roman Empire The Western Roman Empire fell into the Middle Ages (“Dark Ages”) from 500 to 1300 A.D.

The Fall of the Roman Empire While the Western Roman Empire was in decline… …the Eastern Roman Empire remained strong The Eastern Roman Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine capital was Constantinople Constantinople was a wealthy trade city located between the Mediterranean & Black Seas

Western Rome EASTERN ROME Byzantine

Constantinople to provide political, economic and military advantages. Eastern Roman Empire SOL 7A Capital changed to Constantinople to provide political, economic and military advantages. Tell me why?????

Location of Constantinople Protection of the eastern frontier Distance from Germanic invasions in the Western Empire Crossroads of trade Easily fortified site on a peninsula bordered by natural harbors

Black Sea Sea of Marmara Bosphorus Sea of Marmara

Role of Constantinople Seat of the Byzantine Empire until Ottoman conquest Preserved classical Greco-Roman culture

Byzantium Preserves Learning Families valued education Sent children to monastic or public schools Hired private tutors Greek and Latin grammar, philosophy and rhetoric They preserved Greek and Roman great works

Justinian Rule SOL 7B Emperor Justinian provided the basis for the law codes of Western Europe Codification of Roman law Byzantine Empire reaches its height under his rule Reconquest of former Roman territories Expansion of trade

Byzantine Under Justinian He wanted a reconquest of the Roman territories that were lost through Germanic invasions

Justinian Expands Trade There was a giant open-air market where shoppers could buy Tin from England Wine from France Cork from Spain Ivory and gold from Africa

Empress Theodora Justinian’s wife Theodora had a lot of power & influence in the Byzantine Empire: She met with & wrote to foreign leaders She advised Justinian & helped him pass laws She encouraged building of Christian cathedrals

The Hagia Sophia Justinians’ most splendid building Christian church later taken by the Muslims

Justinian Code Justinian set up a panel of legal experts to look through 400 years of Roman law. Some laws were outdated Justinian wanted to create a single, uniform code This became known as the Justinian Code that was used for 900 years after his death

Justinian’s Code Understanding Justinian’s Code You and your partner will be given three scenarios to interpret Once you have completed the interpretation use your knowledge of our laws to give the equivalent law today