Maintaining the Legacy of Rome The Byzantine Empire Maintaining the Legacy of Rome

Centered in Constantinople

Justinian Tried to piece together the remnants of the old Roman Empire Held absolute power over both church and state (definitely more political) Drained treasury with excessive building such as churches, baths, aqueducts, & walls Put down the Nika Rebellion by slaughtering over 30,000 rebels in the hippodrome (chariot race track)

Hagia Sophia

Inside the Hagia Sophia

Justinian Code The Code The Digest The Institutes The Novellae 5000 Roman laws that were applicable The Digest 50 volumes of legal thinkers’ opinions The Institutes Textbook for law students on its application The Novellae New laws written after 534

Turmoil around the Empire General Turmoil Riots, religious quarrels, corruption Plague in the mid-6th century Predecessor of Bubonic Plague Up to 10,000 a day were killed Cycled every 7-12 years until about AD 700 Attacks from outsiders gradually decreased their territory and power

Split in the Church Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox Based in Rome Spoke Latin in services Pope Struggle between authority of the Pope and that of kings Based in Constantinople Spoke Greek in services Patriarch Patriarch was always below the ruler (caesaropapism)