Heirs to Rome: The Byzantine Empire Honors World History

What Was the Byzantine Empire? Same thing as the Eastern Roman Empire The capitol, Constantinople, was located at the Hellespont Narrowest area b/t Asia & Europe Imp. trade routes met there North, to Russia/Vikings South, to Anatolia/Middle East East, to India/China West, to Europe

Who Were They? To inhabitants, they were simply the Roman Empire Emperors continued in unbroken succession from Caesar to Diocletian, Constantine and beyond Statue of Octavian

Justinian I (527-565) Introduced Law Code (“Codex Justinian”), a revision of old Roman laws, in Greek Great general, Belisarius, helped recapture much of traditional Roman Empire (Italy, Africa, part of Spain) Expansion of Byzantine Empire from start of Justinian’s rule to his death

Justinian I Constructed the Hagia Sophia, the greatest Islamic worship center built east of Rome.

Justinian I After death of Justinian, territory gained in West was quickly lost Empire almost fell in late 500s Persians reached Nile River & Bosphorus Slavs overran the Balkans in Europe and laid siege to Constantinople itself

Byzantine Themes, ca 620 AD (yellow) and 900 AD (in pink) Heraklius (610-628) Savior of Empire Considered abandoning Constantinople Reforms Gave soldiers land in frontier Soldiers paid no taxes Sons of soldiers = soldiers themselves Reorganized provinces into themes, under control of General Byzantine Themes, ca 620 AD (yellow) and 900 AD (in pink)

Heraklius Successes Rise of Islam put Byzantine Empire on the defense Longest period of Byz. Empire success, creativity Re-established Byz. Empire in Balkans By 629 AD, recaptured most of ME (Jerusalem) Rise of Islam put Byzantine Empire on the defense Lost Mesopotamia, Syria, Egypt, Africa by 700 AD

Byzantine Empire, 600-1025 Spread of Orthodox Christianity Two monks, Cyril and Methodius, spread the Christian Orthodox faith into Balkans, Poland, & Russia Introduced the Cyrillic Alphabet, to Russians (still use today) Monks, scholars & artists followed, giving culture a distinct Byzantine flavor Cyril and Methodius

Flash Forward several hundred Years, AND …..

Decline of the Byzantine Empire Death of the emperor in 1025 led to conflict between military themes & civilian nobility in capital By 1081, Byzantine Empire had been reduced to only Greece due to this civil war & pressure from Turks Byzantine Empire, 1081

Decline of Byzantine Empire 1100s were a period of recovery for the Empire Assisted by Western Crusaders, starting in 1097 Economy flourished Artistic revival Re-captured SE Europe

Fall of the Byzantine Empire A weak ruler took throne in 1185 Emptied treasury for gifts, building churches In 1204, the 4th Crusade sacked Constantinople (Crusaders / Venetians) Led to fragmentation of empire (local states fought for local control) Sack of Constantinople in 1453 by Ottomans (85k v. 7k defenders) Crusaders enter Constantinople

Legacy of Byzantine Empire Most (only!) stable state during European Middle Ages Expert military& diplomacy saved Europe from Muslim invasion Trade center brought many peoples into contact with one another Transmission of classical knowledge from Islamic world to West helped bring about European Renaissance