The Byzantine Empire 330-1453 AD

Rise of the Byzantine Empire Roman Emperor Constantine moves the capital from Rome to eastern city of Byzantium Western half of old Roman Empire falls into “Dark Ages” Eastern half of Roman Empire becomes Byzantine Empire

The New Roman Empire Still thought of themselves as the Roman Empire Official language would switch from Latin to Greek Very rich and wealthy empire

Geography of Constantinople Water on three sides Located on a strait connecting Black Sea and Mediterranean Key trading location between Europe, Africa, and Asia

Byzantine Culture Cultural Tradition from Greeks Religion Based Culture Christianity center of Byzantine art, education, and life

Theodosian Walls Kept Constantinople safe from Foreign Invasion Deterred Attila the Hun from ever entering City Walls kept city from falling for another 1000 years after their construction

Theodosian Walls Had three separate walls set up in layers to protect the city from invaders

The Golden Age of Byzantine 527 AD Emperor Justinian takes power Not popular at start of his rule High taxes Cold, not very likeable

Empress Theodora Former Actress and Prostitute Strong advocate for woman’s rights.

Nika Riots of 532 Blues vs Greens - factions Riots lead to arrests Justinian orders 1 green and 1 blue to death escape and protest begin Hippodrome

Nika Riots Rioters begin attacking Justinian’s palace for 5 days and Senators whom had opposed Justinian began plotting with groups to unite and overthrow Justinian Nika = Win Theodora convinced Justinian not to flee city during Nika Rebellion Those who have worn the crown should never survive its loss. Never will I see the day when I am not saluted as empress." - Theodora

The Plan Use force Have groups meet at Hippodrome Pay off Blues Kill Greens

Golden Age Continued Rebuilds City Infrastructure After Nika Rebellion Justinian starts Construction projects Rebuilds City Infrastructure Builds the Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia Outside Inside

Expansion by Justinian Starts expansive military campaign Temporarily regained control over much of the old Roman Empire Would eventually be lost again over time

Byzantine Empire under Justinian Control over these regions would not last long after Justinian's death

Justinian Code Formal Code of law that Governed the Empire Legal code from Justinian era till end of the Empire A improved version of Roman Law

Significance ***Justinian’s Code would become the basis for European law in the future***

Byzantine Religion Byzantine Empire brings drastic Change for Christianity Rome no longer important city to the Byzantine people and rulers Lack of Contact between Pope in Rome, and the papacy in the East Breakdown in authority over the church

Byzantine Religion Continued Religion in East controlled by ruling emperor and Patriarch Patriarch a term for Lead Bishop in the East Byzantine Emperors and Patriarchs often conflict with Pope

Icons Icons used by Christians in the east to aid in worship Controversy over use Some saw it as idle worship Leo III banned Icon use in 730AD

Icon Controversy King Leo III’s ban on Icon led to period of Iconoclasm (Icon smashing) Smash Icons to end improper worship Pope claimed a Emperor had no authority to deal in issues of the Christian church

Emperor’s Response Claimed authority over religious decisions within his empire Byzantines viewed Emperor as decisive voice in Christian governance, and practice

Great Schism Issues continue between papacy in east and west over issues such as: Pope’s authority over all matters of Christianity Church’s right to tax the citizens of the Byzantine empire Priest’s right to get married Languages used in church services

Great Schism 1054 AD the Christian Church Splits The patriarch and Pope excommunicate each other Papacy in east forms the Eastern Orthodox church Pope and western churches remain the Roman catholic church

The two Churches Services Conducted in Latin Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox Services Conducted in Latin Pope has authority over all bishops Pope has authority over all kings and emperors Priests can not marry Services Conducted in Greek Patriarch and other bishops head the church Emperor has authority over Patriarch Priests can marry

Spread of EOC Opening up trade with Russia Eastern Orthodox missionaries spread EOC to Slavs (Russians) St. Cyril and St. Methodius most successful missionaries

Cyrillic Alphabet St. Cyril and St. Methodius Designed Cyrillic Alphabet Allowed Slavs to read bible in native language

Cyrillic Alphabet Christianity now spread through Russian areas as the people could now read the Bible in their own language

Byzantine and Roman Empires Byzantine Empire Roman Empire Capitol: Constantinople Spoke Greek Education religion based Art emphasized holiness and spirituality Eastern Orthodox Christian Fixed Capitol: Rome Spoke Latin Education science based Art emphasized beauty and physical appearance Roman Catholic Expansive

Decline of the Byzantine Empire Black plague hit Empire during Emperor Justinian rein around 540 AD Killed large percentage of population From the Start of the Empire it was under constant attack Over time Empire lost more and more territory

Empire Under Justinian

Byzantine Empire At the End

The Crusades 1204 AD the fourth crusade ends with Christians sacking the city of Constantinople Attacks from Islamic and Russian armies shrunk the empire Empire officially dies with the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453

Legacy of Byzantine Empire Preserved Culture of the Greeks and Romans Great Schism split Christianity into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox

Legacy Continued Justinian’s Code preserved Roman laws Be basis for creation of laws in future European countries Cyrillic Alphabet allowed for spread of Eastern Orthodox Christianity into Russia