Byzantium The Eastern Roman Empire Continues

Map of Byzantine Empire

Constantinople Capital of Eastern Roman Empire after it split in 3 rd century AD Located on Bosporus Strait, which linked Mediterranean and Black Seas Controlled key trading routes linking Europe and Asia

Constantinople

Advantages of Constantinople Closer to Silk Road than Rome (Crossroads of trade) Had stronger military than Rome Easier to defend from outside enemies Easily fortified site on a peninsula bordering natural harbor More prosperous than Rome

Constantinople The city of Constantinople blended Greek, Roman and Christian cultures.

Justinian

Age of Justinian ( AD) Byzantium’s most important leader Tried to restore united Roman Empire Prevented German barbarians from moving eastward Built Hagia Sophia, which means “Holy Wisdom (also called Saint Sophia) Defeated rebels at Nika with Theodora’s help

Age of Justinian Used diplomacy to defeat empire’s enemies Organized all Roman laws into Justinian’s Code Ruled as autocrat (dictator) Was regarded as a spiritual as well as political authority

Justinian’s Code Activity with your table group

Hagia Sophia

Theodora

Role of Theodora Wife of Justinian Actress More involved in politics than any other empress

Theodora’s Bravery Reading

Byzantine Achievements Large well-trained bureaucracy Efficient army and navy Strong trade-based economy with high standard of living Powerful Church with influence throughout the Balkans and Russia

Byzantine Achievements Preservation of classical (Greco-Roman) learning in monasteries

Features of Byzantine Art Icons, Mosaics, churches Religious subject matter Dark palette (green, gold, brown, dark red or orange) Stylized faces, large eyes

Byzantine Art

Icons Powerful religious images Thought to connect believer to image in icon Painted On wood Often decorated with gold or silver

Byzantine Icons

Icons

Mosaics

Mosaics: Roman-reflect daily life…fish, animals, grapes Byzantine-religious in nature….crosses, Mary, Jesus Islamic-patterns…no people!!!

Roman Mosaics

Islamic mosaics

The Church Byzantine Empire has the Greek Orthodox Church Western Roman Empire has the Roman Catholic Church

Divisions between Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity Roman Catholic Latin Pope Rome Celibate Priests They like icons Orthodox Greek Patriarch Constantinople Priests can marry Didn’t like icons for a period of time, then later became known for them.

Great Schism The differences between the two resulted in the Great Schism or divide. Now we have two separate churches

Christianity in Russia Slavic people were converted to Christianity by Cyril The Slavs had no written language St. Cyril, a monk, adapted the Greek alphabet to create a written Slavic language known as Cyrillic

Cyrillic

Cyrillic Alphabet

St. Basil’s Cathedral Russians adopted the use of the dome but changed the shape to be more onion looking…why?

Onion Domes