Chapter 9

Constantinople Who: Romans & Byzantines, Constantine What: capital city of the Byzantine Empire Where: in between Black & Mediterranean Seas & Asia / Europe; Byzantine Empire When: Why: the city had an excellent harbor, was guarded on 3 sides by water; Emperors built an elaborate system of walls to protect the city; was the center of key trade routes that linked Asia & Europe; was the connecting point of 2 main seas & 2 continents = everyone wanted it = war

Constantinople Who: Romans, Byzantines, Constantine What: capital of the Byzantine Empire Where: In b/n Black & Med seas; in b/n Asia & Europe; Byzantine Empire, ME When: Why: Constantine named the capital of the Byzantine Empire after himself; vital center of the Byzantine Empire; heavily fortified city; key trading & business center- linked trade routes from Asia to Europe; reminder of Roman heritage

Justinian (6 th ) Who: Byzantine Emperor What: leader that wanted to revive ancient Rome by recovering lands that had been lost Where: Byzantine Empire When: Why: was unsuccessful in recovering land; after the riots he rebuilt the Empire & his great triumph was the Hagia Sophia; reformed the law (Justinian’s Code); ruled as an autocrat w. complete control

Justinian Who: Emperor of Byzantine Empire What: was determined to revive Ancient Rome by recovering land that was taken by Germanic invaders when Rome fell Where: Constantinople, Byzantine Empire When: Why: The Byzantine reached its peak in power under his reign; he lost the land he attempted to gain in N Africa, Iberian Peninsula, Italy; his great triumph was rebuilding Hagia Sophia; reformed the law (Justinian’s code); ruled as an autocrat; ruled the church- Christ’s co-ruler on earth; his wife Theodora helped him rule

313- Constantine made Christianity the legal religion & rebuilt Constantinople 527- Justinian becomes ruler of the Byzantine Empire 532- riots & fires swept Constantinople making Justinian want to rebuild

Justinian’s Code (6 th ) Who: Byzantines, Justinian What: a collection of laws, Corpus Juris Civilis “Body of Civil Law”, that included laws passed by Roman assemblies or Emperors, and legal writings of Roman judges; law code of Byzantine Empire Where: Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire When: 500s-1100s Why:

Justinian’s code Who: Romans, Byzantines, Justinian What: a massive collection that included laws by Roman assemblies & legal writings of Roman judges; Body of Civil Law for the Byzantine Empire Where: Byzantine Empire; Eastern Roman Empire When: 500s- 1100s Why: this law code impacted WE in that they modeled their laws on this & it helped to strengthen & centralize their power; led to legal thinkers creating international law; Justinian used this to unify his power under one central power

Autocrat Who: Justinian What: a sole ruler with complete authority WherE: Byzantine Empire When: 500s- 1100s Why: Justinian used the law to unify the Empire under his control; ruler of both political & religious spheres

Autocrat (6 th ) Who: Justinian What: Sole ruler w. complete authority Where: Byzantine Empire When: 500s-1100s Why: combined both political power & spiritual authority; had control of the church as well as the gov’t

Theodora Who: Justinian’s wife What: she was an advisor & co-ruler to the emperor Justinian Where: Constantinople, Byzantine Empire When: Why: she constantly challenged the Emperor’s authority to pursue her own authority- she convinced him to stay in Constantinople when it was under siege; very good politician

Theodora (6 th ) Who: Justinian’s wife What: advised her husband & pursued her own policies; was a shrewd politician Where: Byzantine Empire When: Why: she helped her husband become a better ruler; she forced Justinian to stay in Constantinople during the riots of 532- he then rebuilt into a great empire after

Patriarch Who: Emperor & Church official What: pious church official in the Byzantine Empire; leader of the Eastern Orthodox church Where: Constantinople, Byzantine Empire When: Why: Different from WE’s Catholic church- could marry & didn’t have complete control like the Pope; he controlled church affairs & was the highest church official

Patriarch (6 th ) Who: Byzantine Emperor & ruler of the Eastern Orthodox church WhaT: highest church official of the Eastern Orthodox church in Constantinople Where: Byzantine Empire When: Why: the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire would appoint a leader right under him that would help the Emperor make decisions about the church; this leader was similar to the Catholic Pope in the West except he could marry & didn’t have complete control