Aim: Was the Byzantine Empire a continuation of Rome? Do Now: Are you more similar or different from your family? Will this change when you get older? Write your answer  Turn & Talk

I Rome Wasn’t Dead Yet! A) Diocletian divided the Roman Empire in half. Under Constantine, Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. When the Roman Empire fell in the West in 476 CE, the Empire continued in the East for almost 1000 more years! (Byzantine Empire). The Byzantines called themselves Romans even though they spoke Greek! B) Constantinople was on the Bosphorus Strait that links the Black and Mediterranean Seas. *It also links Europe and Asia! Constantinople’s former name was Byzantium. Today, it is the city of Istanbul in modern day Turkey.

C) The Hippodrome was a horse-racing track, as well as a place for coronations and parades. GREAT TRADE!!!

II Age of Justinian (Ruled 527 – 565 CE) A) His goal was to revive the glory of Rome.

Age of Justinian Continued… B) He built the Hagia Sophia Church “Holy Wisdom” in 537 CE. The interior dome is covered in gold. “O Solomon I have surpassed you!” When Constantinople was captured by the Ottoman Turks, the Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque. Today it is a museum.

Hagia Sophia

Age of Justinian Continued… C) Justinian organized Roman laws into the “Body of Civil Law”. Today it is known as the Justinian Code. It protected Roman laws from disappearing. D) Byzantine Weapon: “Greek Fire”

III Theodora (500 – 548 CE) A) Acted as a joint ruler with her husband B) In 532 CE, a 5 day rebellion broke out at the Hippodrome (the Nika Revolt). The protesters set buildings on fire and declared a new emperor. Justinian wanted to flee but Theodora convinced him to stay.  30,000 people killed. C) She helped create reforms to help women. Banned killing of unwanted babies Gave women property rights in divorce Banned the murder of a wife who committed adultery Closed brothels

IV The East – West Schism The Great Schism was the split between the Eastern (Byzantine) church and the Western (Orthodox) church. Causes: Catholic Church Orthodox Church Latin Greek Never banned icons (religious images) Banned icons 730 – 843 CE due to Muslim influence Clergy are celibate Clergy can marry Pope Patriarch “If the Roman Pope, seated on the lofty throne of his glory wishes to thunder at us and… hurl his mandates at us from on high… at his own arbitrary pleasure, what kind of brotherhood, or even what kind of parenthood can this be? We should be the slaves, not the sons, of such a Church, and the Roman See [Catholic Church] would not be the pious [devout] mother of sons but a hard… mistress of slaves.” Nicetas, Archbishop of Nicomedia

Pope John Paul II and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, 2005, Istanbul.

V Collapse of the Byzantine Empire A) 1071 the Ottoman Turks won a major victory over the Byzantines at Manzikert. B) Fourth Crusade 1201 Christian Knights from western Europe went to fight Seljuk Turks (Muslims) to recapture the Holy Land. Along the way, the Christian Knights sacked Constantinople (a Christian city!). C) 1453 the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople and renamed it Istanbul.

Classwork/HW Questions How should Justinian be remembered? How should Theodora be remembered? How much do you think the Muslim Arabs influenced the Byzantine Empire? Explain the East-West Schism. Which side is more justified? Was the Byzantine Empire truly Roman?

Key Vocabulary 4th Crusade Istanbul Baltic Sea Justinian Battle at Manzikert Justinian’s Code Bosphorus Nika Revolt Byzantine Empire Ottoman Turks Constantinople Patriarch Eastern Orthodox Christianity Schism Excommunicate Theodora Great Schism Hagia Sophia Hippodrome Iconoclastic Controversy Icons