Byzantine Empire Chapter 11:1 Hagia Sophia

Chapter Overview Focus on 5 areas How did it start? Byzantine Empire How did it start? What did they do that was significant? How did it end? Focus on 5 areas Government Justinian Code Preservation of Greek and Roman Learning Split in Christianity Hagia Sophia Church

How did it start? Meanwhile ….. Eventually, Western Roman Empire gone Background: Roman World Transforms Roman Empire Split Germanic tribes move into Roman Empire Eventually, Western Roman Empire gone Germanic states ruled by German kings Romans and Germans merge Meanwhile …..

Roman Empire Split In 284 AD, Diocletian splits empire into 4 units – divides into 2 halves Constantine moves capital from Rome to Byzantium Renamed Constantinople Divided after he dies East survives West falls Constantine wins civil war after Diocletian retires. He gains control of West and East – single ruler 330 AD he moves capital from Rome to city of Byzantium Renames it Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey today)

Justinian Reign - Government Byzantine nobleman - crowned emperor in 527 AD Takes back much of old Roman Empire from Germanic tribes Absolute power of religion and state Can appoint or fire bishops He is brutal and nasty, but pragmatic – does what’s needed to strengthen & expand empire

Justinian Reign - Government Theodora She was an “actress” in the Hippodrome (prostitute), but converts to Christianity while in Egypt Different from Orthodox Christianity Justinian has law against marrying an “actress” appealed & marries her Two years later they are crowned emperor & empress She was strong leader & fought for women’s rights Credited with saving the empire during the Nika Rebellion

Justinian Reign - Government Hippodrome – free entertainment (what does that remind you of?) Wild chariot & horse races with rowdy gangs Colors signified their heroes - fanatical Nika or “Victory” rebellion Disagreement between two sects of Christianity – the Greens and the Blues Riot breaks out – want to overthrow Justinian Justinian & generals consider fleeing, but Theodora’s speech convinces them to stay Belisarius tricks them into coming to Hippodrome and kills 30,000 rebels

Justinian Reign - Government Largest building program in all of Rome Immense palace complex Hundreds of churches Rebuilds Hippodrome Built protective walls around the city Roads, bridges, walls, public baths, courts, schools, underground reservoirs to hold water supply Greatest achievement – famous Hagia Sophia – Church of the Holy Wisdom Considered one of the wonders of the world Mosque for awhile, now a museum, World Heritage Site “Outstanding Universal Value” Why do governments or leaders build magnificent buildings? Hagia Sophia had been destroyed in riots in 532 He rebuilt it

Hippodrome

Justinian Code As empire got more complex, create panel to regulate society Codification of Roman Law – Justinian Code Body of civil law in four parts Sorted through 400 years worth of Roman laws Created a single, uniform code Made it simpler to follow the laws Basis of law in Eastern Empire for 900 years Eventually used as legal system in West and all of Europe Code: decided legal questions to regulate many areas of life – marriage, slavery, property, women’s rights, inheritance, criminal justice.

Preservation of Greek & Roman Learning Eastern Empire has its own unique culture Greek-speaking in the East, Latin-speaking in the West Byzantines valued education Children learned from classics Homer Geometry from Euclid History from Herodotus Medicine from Galen While Eastern Empire is flourishing, West is in the “Dark Ages” – survival mode Books are burned by Vikings, Germanic tribes Classic works are reintroduced to West after Dark Ages

Split in Christianity Christianity was one church based in Rome Differences cause it to split between East & West Long distance, low communication Different beliefs about how to live as Christians East – Saint Basil – don’t be showy, or boast, don’t desire material wealth, embrace poverty In East, became known as Eastern Orthodox Church West East Rewrite this slide – don’t go to 8th Century – put religious info in next section West is in survival mode-Vikings burned books there; knowledge, learning disappear – Dark Ages Byzantines preserve much of it, take there later Pope Emperor Emperor Patriarch

Split in Christian Church Icon Controversy Emperor Leo III bans icons, “idol worship” Pope supports use of icons Hundreds of valuable icons are destroyed Pope “excommunicates” an emperor He kicks him out of the church Theodora restores icons to Eastern Church Differences between the churches grows 1054 the Pope and Patriarch excommunicate each other over doctrine dispute Churches officially split into Roman Catholic Church – official church in West Orthodox Church – official church in East

How Did It End? Byzantine Empire slowly shrinks over time Series of crises after Justinian’s death Before his death, horrible plague strikes - rats At peak, killed 10,000 people per day Economy and society break down Numerous invasion attempts on all sides In 1453, the Turkish armies breach the walls with cannons We’ll learn more about this when we study the Crusades

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