Byzantine Empire

Objective(s) Students will be able to analyze and describe the political/social/religious developments of the Byzantine Empire after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Students will be able to explain the relationship of the Byzantine Empire regarding the development of Eastern Europe.

I. Origins Beginnings rooted in Rome’s eastern capital – Constantinople, founded in 4th century Became cultural, commercial center of Roman empire in later years Controlled Middle East, North Africa After fall of western half, Byzantium became center of Mediterranean world Empire based on Christianity, power of autocratic emperor

II. A New Power 527 – Justinian, a Byzantine nobleman, takes throne of eastern empire Sends his armies to reconquer western territories Successful in reconquering much of old Roman Empire Ruled with absolute power Head of both empire and church Unpopular with many, but ultimately successful in continuing legacy of Rome

III. New Roman Culture Latin no longer most popular language, most spoke Greek Hellenistic culture takes hold in society Restructuring of Roman Law Justinian Code – made up of four works Code: contained 5,000 Roman laws still useful Digest: summarized opinions of Rome’s greatest legal thinkers Institutes: textbook explaining how to use laws Novellae: mean New Laws, anything passed after 534 Covered everything: marriage, slavery, women’s rights, and much more Lasted 900 years

III. Continued… Justinian ordered construction of many great public works 14-mile stone wall along city coast Hagia Sophia – once considered greatest church in Christian world Built public baths, aqueducts, courts, schools Preservation of Greco-Roman culture Education focused on Greek & Latin grammar, philosophy Byzantine scholars helped preserve many older works from Ancient Greece and Rome

IV. Split in Christian Church When Rome split, Christianity began to develop differently in east & west In east: Patriarch was leading bishop, but Emperor head of church In west: the pope was head of church – no authority in east Differences in religious doctrines (teachings) led to permanent split (11th century) Roman Catholic Church in west (Rome, western Europe) Eastern Orthodox Church in east (Byzantine Empire)

V. Decline After split in church, Byzantine Empire faced a steady decline Outside invaders Sassanid Persians in the east Muslim armies from south Lombards in the west Avars, Slavs, Bulgars in north Empire slowly shrank due to constant attacks 1350 – reduced to tip of Anatolia City of Constantinople held until 1453, eventually fell to Muslim Turks

VI. Eastern Europe Byzantine Empire pushed Christianity north Accelerated development of independent civilizations in Eastern Europe Missionaries bring culture – development of Slavic written language (Cyrillic) Kievan Rus’ Scandinavian traders moved through Slavic lands of eastern Europe Settlements and governments established along trade routes City of Kiev became focal point of commerce, culture Became center of small kingdom, called Kievan Rus’, later Russia

VI. Continued… Based many traditions on Byzantine culture Autocratic (supreme) ruler that controlled church – Russian Orthodoxy develops Called czar, from Russian word for “Caesar” Developed strong aristocratic class – “boyars” Invaded/conquered by Mongols in 1200s

5-Minute Response Compare/contrast the Byzantine Empire with the Roman Empire.

Vocab – ch. 9 Hagia Sophia Bulgaria Kiev Rurik Russian Orthodox Boyars Tartars