THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE ALSO CALLED Remnants of the Eastern Roman Empire Saw themselves as heirs of Rome’s great power. Culture: Hellenistic (Greek) )

Best Known Ruler: Justinian – tries to retake the west the Justinian Code (laws) Stable government Haiga Sofia

Capital: Constantinople – Capital: Constantinople – World class city Haiga Sophia – Church Hippodrome – Arena – held 60,000 people for chariot races, etc. Great Universities

Location: on the Bosporus – Crossroads of trade Well-protected: Cliffs on 3 sides- 3 walls 5’ to 75’ Eastern lands shrink – Constantinople lasts until 1453 CE

Religion: Christianity 1054 CE - The Big Split in Christianity (“schism”) Eastern Western Leader Patriarch Pope Independent from Gov. no yes Allows Icons eventually Language of church local Latin Priest allowed to marry

Eastern Church = Eastern Orthodox. Church (Correct belief) **Eastern Church = Eastern Orthodox Church (Correct belief) **Western Church = Roman Catholic Church (Universal)   ICONS: Small religious art objects ICONOCLASTS: People against Icons EXCOMMUNICATION: Tossed out of the Religion HERETICS: People who hold beliefs different than church teachings

SLAVS & TURKS INFLUENCED BY EMPIRES Byzantine Empire and Slavs were at war for years Missionaries had Slavic converts Cyril – Byzantine monk, created alphabet for the Slavs to use (for reading the Bible). Cyrillic Alphabet used in several Slavic languages (Russian)).

RUSSIA People originally from Scandinavia, settled in Kiev. 989 AD–Vladimir accepts (Eastern Orthodox) Christianity for “Rus” Religion, culture, and architecture patterned after Byzantine Empire (later Russia saw herself as the 3rd Rome)

TURKS Turks were at war with Islamic armies Joined Islamic faith, but take over Baghdad (and become rulers). Ottoman Turks took over, attacked Constantinople Under Muhammad II, Ottoman Turks took Constantinople on May 28, 1453 – finally Rome had totally fallen