Chapter 12 Kingdoms and Christianity

Section 1: The Byzantine Empire Main Idea The Byzantine Empire, once the eastern half of the Roman Empire, was held together for centuries by strong leaders, profitable trade, and the influence of Christianity. Objectives How did Byzantine emperors rule their empire from Constantinople? What were some important features of Byzantine culture? What led to the decline of the Byzantine Empire?

The Story Continues The “fall” of the Roman Empire was really only half a fall. Although Germanic tribes defeated the Western Roman Empire in the A.D. 400s, the Eastern Roman Empire successfully fought off the invaders. It came to be called the Byzantine Empire and included Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and other areas. Through the Byzantines the glory of the Roman Empire lived on.

The Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent

I. Emperors Rule in Constantinople AD 527 to 565 - Justinian ruled the Byzantine Empire; his wife Theodora was co-ruler Mosaic of Justinian at San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy

Digital painting from mosaic of Justinian at San Vitale in Ravenna

I. Emperors Rule in Constantinople Belisarius, commander of Justinian’s army, expanded the empire to its greatest size

I. Emperors Rule in Constantinople 532 - opposition to Justinian’s rule caused the Nika Revolt; led by two factions – the Greens and Blues

I. Emperors Rule in Constantinople Justinian ready to flee but Theodora convinced him to stay and fight; rebellion was quashed Empress Theodora (d. 548)

I. Emperors Rule in Constantinople One major contribution of Justinian was collecting and preserving Roman law – the Justinian Code

I. Emperors Rule in Constantinople The Code was the basis of Byzantine law; also provided framework for European legal systems The Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law)

I. Emperors Rule in Constantinople Theodora urged Justinian to change Byzantine law to improve the status of women Emperor Justinian (482-565) and Empress Theodora (d. 548)

II. Strengths of the Empire Justinian ruled with a strong central government; the military protected the borders

II. Strengths of the Empire Constantinople controlled the Bosporus Strait and grew wealthy from trade

II. Strengths of the Empire Invented “Greek fire” – a chemical that burst into flames when sprayed onto enemy ships

III. The Christian Church Patriarch of Constantinople challenged the pope’s authority Pope Francis Patriarchate of Constantinople Bartholomew I

III. The Christian Church Iconoclastic Controversy resulted from a major disagreement over the role of icons Icon of Jesus and Mary

III. The Christian Church Emperor ordered icons destroyed but the Pope decreed abolishing icons was a heresy Saint Peter

III. The Christian Church 1054 - The church split into Roman Catholic (spoke Latin) and Eastern Orthodox (spoke Greek)

IV. Byzantine Culture Byzantine civilization thrived while western Europe entered the Dark Ages

IV. Byzantine Culture Art included murals, mosaics, & icons; Architecture included the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople

V. The Decline of the Empire After Justinian, the Byzantines lost land to the Persians, Lombards, Slavs, and Muslims The yellow areas were lost in the 11th century, the green areas in the 12th and 13th centuries, and the purple areas in the 14th century. The remaining bits and pieces (black) were taken by the Ottoman Turks, culminating with the capture of Constantinople in 1453.

V. The Decline of the Empire A.D. 1000s - Seljuq Turks captured Asia Minor, a source of food and soldiers for the empire

V. The Decline of the Empire 1204 –Emperor asked Rome for help, but the Crusaders attacked and seized Constantinople The capture of Constantinople in 1204 by the Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade was one of the darkest hours in history. Eventually, the Crusaders too, would suffer from this event.

V. The Decline of the Empire Byzantines regained Constantinople, but were conquered in 1453 by Ottoman Turks