The Byzantine Empire Life in Europe without Rome

Background In the year 330 AD as the Roman Empire was collapsing, the Emperor Constantine rebuilt the city of Byzantine and renamed it Constantinople In the year 330 AD as the Roman Empire was collapsing, the Emperor Constantine rebuilt the city of Byzantine and renamed it Constantinople Located on the Bosporus straits Constantinople became an important trade link between Europe and Asia Located on the Bosporus straits Constantinople became an important trade link between Europe and Asia

Background Cont. While the rest of Western Europe entered the Dark Ages the Byzantine Empire became strong and prosperous While the rest of Western Europe entered the Dark Ages the Byzantine Empire became strong and prosperous Almost all of the goods that passed from Asia to Europe went through the Empire making the Empire wealthy and powerful Almost all of the goods that passed from Asia to Europe went through the Empire making the Empire wealthy and powerful The Byzantine became a haven for knowledge and the arts of ancient Rome The Byzantine became a haven for knowledge and the arts of ancient Rome

The Emperor Justinian The Byzantine reached their peak under the rule of the Emperor Justinian between 527 – 565 The Byzantine reached their peak under the rule of the Emperor Justinian between 527 – 565 Justinian like all Byzantine Emperors was an Autocratic ruler with complete authority over everything in his kingdom, even the Church Justinian like all Byzantine Emperors was an Autocratic ruler with complete authority over everything in his kingdom, even the Church The Byzantine Emperors were seen much as the Pope was seen in the west but not complete authority over both the church and state The Byzantine Emperors were seen much as the Pope was seen in the west but not complete authority over both the church and state

Justinian Cont. Justinian conquered lands uniting much of the old Roman Empire Justinian conquered lands uniting much of the old Roman Empire He also creates the Hagia Sophia which was a massive church dedicated to God He also creates the Hagia Sophia which was a massive church dedicated to God More importantly was the Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law) this was a collection of laws dating back to the Roman Empire More importantly was the Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law) this was a collection of laws dating back to the Roman Empire These laws became known as Justinian’s Code These laws became known as Justinian’s Code

The Great Schism The idea that the Byzantine Emperor was the leader of the Christian Church would eventually cause problems with the Pope and the Western Church The idea that the Byzantine Emperor was the leader of the Christian Church would eventually cause problems with the Pope and the Western Church The idea that there could only be one leader of the Christian Church would lead to a split between the The idea that there could only be one leader of the Christian Church would lead to a split between the East and West East and West

The Empress Theodora Not only was Justinian a strong leader but his wife also was very powerful Not only was Justinian a strong leader but his wife also was very powerful Theodora influenced Justinian to pass laws which protected and promoted women’s rights Theodora influenced Justinian to pass laws which protected and promoted women’s rights These rights included the ability to own property and get divorces These rights included the ability to own property and get divorces Theodora was the 1 st women’s Theodora was the 1 st women’s rights activist rights activist

The Fall of Constantinople In the 1090s the Byzantine asked the West to help fight the Muslims In the 1090s the Byzantine asked the West to help fight the Muslims 2 Crusades would pass through Constantinople without many problems – although the Byzantine and the Crusaders viewed each other as barbarians and heathens 2 Crusades would pass through Constantinople without many problems – although the Byzantine and the Crusaders viewed each other as barbarians and heathens On the 4 th Crusade, in 1204, the Crusaders On the 4 th Crusade, in 1204, the Crusaders attacked and captured the city of attacked and captured the city of Constantinople Constantinople

Fall Cont. After looting the city and sending most of the treasure back to the west the crusaders would rule Constantinople for the next 50 years After looting the city and sending most of the treasure back to the west the crusaders would rule Constantinople for the next 50 years Even though the Byzantine regained control they never recovered from the attack Even though the Byzantine regained control they never recovered from the attack 1260 – 1453 the ottoman Armies slowly chipped away at what was left of the Byzantine 1260 – 1453 the ottoman Armies slowly chipped away at what was left of the Byzantine In 1453 after a 2 month siege Constantinople fell. The last Emperor died defending the walls of the city In 1453 after a 2 month siege Constantinople fell. The last Emperor died defending the walls of the city The Ottomans renamed the city Istanbul and converted the Hagia Sophia to an Islamic Mosque The Ottomans renamed the city Istanbul and converted the Hagia Sophia to an Islamic Mosque

The Rise of Kiev In 998 Prince Vladimir of Kiev converted his country to Greek Orthodox Christianity In 998 Prince Vladimir of Kiev converted his country to Greek Orthodox Christianity Through time the Greek Orthodox Church evolved into what is know today as the Russian Orthodox Church Through time the Greek Orthodox Church evolved into what is know today as the Russian Orthodox Church These close ties between Russia and the Byzantine allowed for trading and economic growth These close ties between Russia and the Byzantine allowed for trading and economic growth As the Byzantine decline its trading with Russia also declines As the Byzantine decline its trading with Russia also declines Then in the early 1200s the Mongols invaded Russia Then in the early 1200s the Mongols invaded Russia

The Rise of Moscow When the Russian Orthodox Church moved to Moscow it made Moscow Russia’s new religious center When the Russian Orthodox Church moved to Moscow it made Moscow Russia’s new religious center In 1380 the Princes organized an army and defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Kulkivo and Moscow became the political center of Russia In 1380 the Princes organized an army and defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Kulkivo and Moscow became the political center of Russia With the Mongols defeated a power vacuum was created in Russia in 1462 Ivan the Great would step up to fill With the Mongols defeated a power vacuum was created in Russia in 1462 Ivan the Great would step up to fill

Ivan The Great Ivan the Great established himself as an absolute ruler and took the title of Czar (Czar is Russian for Caesar) Ivan the Great established himself as an absolute ruler and took the title of Czar (Czar is Russian for Caesar) Under Ivan the Great Russia was centralized and lost lands were regained Under Ivan the Great Russia was centralized and lost lands were regained His throne will be passed to his grandson Ivan the Terrible His throne will be passed to his grandson Ivan the Terrible

Ivan The Terrible Ivan the Terrible ruled Russia with an iron fist. He under cut the power of the Russian Nobles and passed laws tying serfs to the land Ivan the Terrible ruled Russia with an iron fist. He under cut the power of the Russian Nobles and passed laws tying serfs to the land He was crazy killing anyone who disagreed with him – including his son He was crazy killing anyone who disagreed with him – including his son From 1560 – 1584 Russia lived in terror From 1560 – 1584 Russia lived in terror With his death in 1584 Russia entered what is called “The Time of Troubles” during which Russian Nobles fought over who would inherit the thrown With his death in 1584 Russia entered what is called “The Time of Troubles” during which Russian Nobles fought over who would inherit the thrown Finally in 1613 an assembly of Clergy and Nobles gathered and chose a new Czar Michael Romanov Finally in 1613 an assembly of Clergy and Nobles gathered and chose a new Czar Michael Romanov The Romanov family would rule until 1914 The Romanov family would rule until 1914

Vlad Tepes Dracula Romania Prince who fought for the freedom of his people over Ottoman expansion Romania Prince who fought for the freedom of his people over Ottoman expansion Used harsh punishments to maintain peace in his lands – loved by his people and feared by his enemies Used harsh punishments to maintain peace in his lands – loved by his people and feared by his enemies How does the historical person become the basis for dracula? How does the historical person become the basis for dracula?