Byzantine Civilization 2.3

Background Split in church –Created two distinct European civilizations Byzantine Civilization –Orthodox –Tradition

Culture…..Unique Constantinople= crossroads of trade –Mixer of classic Greek and Roman ideas Preserving Roman law –Would have been lost without Byzantine –Justinian Admired order Legal legacy was confusing…local laws, imperial laws and judges decisions Organized lawyers to organize Unified Code- systematic body of law

Justinian Code Published in 529 In todays terms seems harsh Did protect some individual rights –Theodoras influence –Women rights…could inherit property Preserved roman legal tradition –Many nations still base legal system on roman Law

Justinian Code Four Parts –The Code Collection of Roman laws –The digest Summary of writings by experts –The Institutes Basic principles of Roman law in textbook form for the purpose of teaching law students –Novels Laws issued by Justinian

Art and Architecture Own style Hagia Sophia –Cross shaped floor plan –Topped by enormous dome 185 feet above floor –Lamps hung to give golden glow

Hagia Sophia Video

Arts Flat and formal and religious Icons and mosaics –Design made with colored stones and small pieces of glass –Backed with shimmering sheets of gold Mosaics glowing with rich color covered walls and domes of churches

Education and Literature Important aspect of civilization Government supported schools Older students learned philosophy, math and music Libraries copied and preserved manuscripts –Handwritten documents –Homers epics, Greek and Roman philosophy Would have been lost without libraries

Spread of Byzantine Culture Long and Violent history –Armies had to fight off invasions –Imperial court known for plots and power struggles Rulers blinded, poisoned, or beheaded Culture still spread –How?...Two Ways, Constantinople and Missionaries

Lure of Constantinople Visitors wanted to come to Constantinople –Trade was key –Scholars came to study –Artists came to work Byzantine leaders flaunted wealth –Elaborate ceremonies, jewels and rich clothing –Visitors took ideas and products back with them Venice and Ravenna outposts for art and architecture Russia and Ukraine took many elements

Missionary Work Missionaries traveled with church and Byzantine ideas Late 800s –Traveled through Eastern Europe Home of Slavs (Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians)

Cyril and Methodius Most Famous Missionaries Came from noble family Apostles of Slavs 862 King of Moravia asked Emperor Michael III to send missionaries to Slavic –Cyril and Methodius sent..they knew language Cyril invented alphabet of Slavic Language Translated Bible

Cyrillic Alphabet Gave Slavs their first written language Alphabet still used today in some form –Russia, Serbian and Slavic languages

Conversion of Russians Inspired by Cyril and Methodius Missionaries traveled to North RUS (Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia) 988 Prince Vladimir –Sent officials to Constantinople to learn faith –Hagia Sophia dazzled them When they returned Prince and Russians converted

End of Empire Always under attack –Germanic Tribes from west took control of some lands –East Perisan Empire constant threat –Arabs from south and Slavs from North Wanted rich city of Contanstinople For centuries held their own –City strong walls by land –By sea…new weapon

Greek Fire Chemical mixture that burned furiously –Even in water –would shoot at enemy ships – bomb-of-the-ancients#greek-fire-a-bomb-of- the-ancientshttp:// bomb-of-the-ancients#greek-fire-a-bomb-of- the-ancients

End came Slowly Attackers took small bits Kept Constantinople Final Attack –Turks –Greek fire no match to the gunpowder Giant Canons hurled 1,200 pound balls at walls 1453 city fell to turks