The Byzantine Empire One God One Empire One Religion

Diocletian splits the empire into the East and West Diocletian splits the empire into the East and West Rome: The Western Empire 1.Spoke Latin 2.Includes Italy, Gaul, Britain, and Spain 3.Not as wealthy 4.Conquered by Germanic tribes in 476 A.D. Rome: The Eastern Empire 1.Spoke Greek 2.Includes Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt 3.More wealthy 4.Lasted until 1453 A.D.

The Eastern Empire As Western Europe succumbed to the Germanic invasions, imperial power shifted to the Byzantine Empire (the eastern part of the Roman Empire). As Western Europe succumbed to the Germanic invasions, imperial power shifted to the Byzantine Empire (the eastern part of the Roman Empire).

Constantinople Constantinople became the sole capitol of the empire and remained so until the successful revival of the western empire in the 8 th century by Charlemagne. Constantinople became the sole capitol of the empire and remained so until the successful revival of the western empire in the 8 th century by Charlemagne.

Reasons for Success Political Strength – centralized, autocratic, loyal officials, shrewd diplomacy, royal marriages, provocation of enemies Political Strength – centralized, autocratic, loyal officials, shrewd diplomacy, royal marriages, provocation of enemies Good Defenses – infantry, cavalry, engineering corps, medical care and land grants for soldiers, Greek Fire Good Defenses – infantry, cavalry, engineering corps, medical care and land grants for soldiers, Greek Fire Prosperous Economy – abundant trade, good location on trade routes - Bosphorus Prosperous Economy – abundant trade, good location on trade routes - Bosphorus

Constantinople

The Reign of Justinian The height of the first period of Byzantine history ( ) was the reign of Emperor Justinian (r ) and his wife Empress Theodora (d. 548) The height of the first period of Byzantine history ( ) was the reign of Emperor Justinian (r ) and his wife Empress Theodora (d. 548)

Theodora Difficult early life Difficult early life Inspired Justinian to write laws that helped women Inspired Justinian to write laws that helped women Role in the Nika Rebellion – famous speech documented by Procopius Role in the Nika Rebellion – famous speech documented by Procopius

Belisarius Was a peasant who Justinian appointed as his commander in chief of the military Was a peasant who Justinian appointed as his commander in chief of the military Helped Emperor Justinian try to take back the Western Empire Helped Emperor Justinian try to take back the Western Empire Brought back old Roman law tablets that had not been destroyed by the invading Germanic people. Justinian would use these tablets to make his own set of laws Brought back old Roman law tablets that had not been destroyed by the invading Germanic people. Justinian would use these tablets to make his own set of laws

The Imperial Goal: Unity The imperial goal in the East was to centralize government and impose legal and doctrinal conformity. The imperial goal in the East was to centralize government and impose legal and doctrinal conformity. One God One Empire One Religion

1 st Method: Law Justinian collated and revised Roman law. Justinian collated and revised Roman law. Formed the Justinian Code Formed the Justinian Code Codified Roman law Codified Roman law This code of law became the basis for both the European and American legal systems This code of law became the basis for both the European and American legal systems Regulated all aspects of Byzantine society Regulated all aspects of Byzantine society

2 nd Method: Religion Religion as well as law served imperial centralization. Religion as well as law served imperial centralization. In 380, Christianity had been proclaimed the official religion of the eastern empire. Now all other religions were considered “demented and insane.” In 380, Christianity had been proclaimed the official religion of the eastern empire. Now all other religions were considered “demented and insane.”

The Iconoclastic Controversy Christianity is the belief in Jesus Christ and his teachings Christianity is the belief in Jesus Christ and his teachings First Christian faith was Catholic meaning “universal” First Christian faith was Catholic meaning “universal” The Roman Empire practiced Christianity since the days of Constantine The Roman Empire practiced Christianity since the days of Constantine There was controversies between the two different sides about Christianity There was controversies between the two different sides about Christianity The Roman Empire would influence the development of the Catholic Church and its division The Roman Empire would influence the development of the Catholic Church and its division

The Iconoclastic Controversy The Iconoclastic Controversy, a movement that denied the holiness of religious images, devastated much of the empire for over a hundred years. The Iconoclastic Controversy, a movement that denied the holiness of religious images, devastated much of the empire for over a hundred years. In 730, Byzantine Emperor Leo III banned the use of icons In 730, Byzantine Emperor Leo III banned the use of icons Icon- a religious image Icon- a religious image The Western Church wanted the use of icons to help explain the Bible The Western Church wanted the use of icons to help explain the Bible

The Iconoclastic Controversy The Great Schism occurs in 1054 The Great Schism occurs in 1054 Schism- a split Schism- a split Permanent division of the Christian Church Permanent division of the Christian Church The West becomes the Roman Catholic Church The West becomes the Roman Catholic Church The East becomes the Eastern Orthodox Church The East becomes the Eastern Orthodox Church

Two Faiths Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Services in Latin until 1965 Services in Latin until 1965 Pope over bishops Pope over bishops Pope higher than kings Pope higher than kings Priest may not marry Priest may not marry Divorce is not permitted Divorce is not permitted Eastern Orthodox Services in Greek Patriarch and bishops rule together Emperor is higher than patriarch Priest may marry Divorce is permitted

Between the 4 th and 6 th centuries, the patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem acquired enormous wealth in the form of land and gold. Between the 4 th and 6 th centuries, the patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem acquired enormous wealth in the form of land and gold. Increase in Church Wealth

Increase in Clergy The prestige and comfort that the clergy enjoyed swelled the ranks of the clergy in the Eastern Church. The prestige and comfort that the clergy enjoyed swelled the ranks of the clergy in the Eastern Church.

Contributions of the Byzantine Empire Kept the Greek and Roman culture, traditions and learning alive Kept the Greek and Roman culture, traditions and learning alive Cyril and Methodius- two brothers sent out as missionaries to convert the barbaric Slavic people Cyril and Methodius- two brothers sent out as missionaries to convert the barbaric Slavic people Spread Byzantine culture to the Slavic people. Spread Byzantine culture to the Slavic people. Cyrillic Alphabet- invented an alphabet for the Slavic language Cyrillic Alphabet- invented an alphabet for the Slavic language Now the Slavic people could read the Bible Now the Slavic people could read the Bible Many Slavic languages, including Russian, are now written with the Cyrillic Alphabet Many Slavic languages, including Russian, are now written with the Cyrillic Alphabet Codified Roman laws Codified Roman laws

Extensive Building Plans Justinian was an ambitious builder and undertook massive building projects Justinian was an ambitious builder and undertook massive building projects Market places Market places Imperial palaces Imperial palaces Hagia Sophia- Holy Wisdom Hagia Sophia- Holy Wisdom Justinian’s greatest monument Justinian’s greatest monument Took only 5 years to build Took only 5 years to build Was meant to serve two goals Was meant to serve two goals To be a monument to Justinian’s reign To be a monument to Justinian’s reign To make people who entered the cathedral get feel that they were in God’s world To make people who entered the cathedral get feel that they were in God’s world The Hagia Sophia was built in Constantinople, now Istanbul The Hagia Sophia was built in Constantinople, now Istanbul

Hagia Sophia

The Empire at Its Height The empire was at its height In 565, during Justinian’s reign. It included most of the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

Decline in the 7 th Century In the seventh century the empire lost Syria, the Holy Land, Egypt, and North Africa to invading Islamic armies. In the seventh century the empire lost Syria, the Holy Land, Egypt, and North Africa to invading Islamic armies.

Recovery of Territory The Byzantines called upon the European states to push back the Muslim conquerors. The European states complied, successfully pushed back the Seljuks, returned territory to the Byzantines, and carved out kingdoms of their own in Syria and Palestine. The Byzantines called upon the European states to push back the Muslim conquerors. The European states complied, successfully pushed back the Seljuks, returned territory to the Byzantines, and carved out kingdoms of their own in Syria and Palestine.

The Fall of Constantinople In 1204, the Crusaders attacked, conquered, and pillaged the city of Constantinople, a goal that the Muslims had been trying achieve for centuries In 1204, the Crusaders attacked, conquered, and pillaged the city of Constantinople, a goal that the Muslims had been trying achieve for centuries

Conquered by the Ottoman Turks In 1453, the city was finally and permanently conquered by the Ottoman Turks In 1453, the city was finally and permanently conquered by the Ottoman Turks Renamed it Istanbul. Renamed it Istanbul. Byzantine culture, law, and administration came to its final end. Byzantine culture, law, and administration came to its final end.

Why the Byzantine Empire Falls: Invasions from the East and the West Invasions from the East and the West Disease- Plague Disease- Plague The rise of Islam and religious disputes- crusades The rise of Islam and religious disputes- crusades

Contribution to Western Civilization Throughout the early Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire remained a protective barrier between western Europe and hostile Persian, Arab, and Turkish armies. Throughout the early Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire remained a protective barrier between western Europe and hostile Persian, Arab, and Turkish armies. The Byzantines were also a major conduit of classical learning and science into the West down to the Renaissance. While western Europeans were fumbling to create a culture of their own, the cities of the Byzantine Empire provided them a model of a civilized society. The Byzantines were also a major conduit of classical learning and science into the West down to the Renaissance. While western Europeans were fumbling to create a culture of their own, the cities of the Byzantine Empire provided them a model of a civilized society.