Byzantine Empire Amanda G. Arundel High School

Roman Predecessors Diocletian split the Roman Empire into two sections, aligning myself with a co-emperor Augustus, establishing a tetrachy This did not last long after his death, and was reversed until Constantine Constantine reunited the empires but established the capital at Constantinople, with more focus on the Eastern segments of the Empire than the previously Western focus Established a leniency with Christianity that would make it the dominant religion after the Western fall In 395 the two empires are officially split In the 6 th century CE Justinian takes command and the Byzantine Empire flourishes

Dynasties First Emperor of the officially designated Eastern Empire Herculean Dynasty established in the middle 7 th century CE only to experience territorial loss. During this period the arts became more political and less innovative Isaurian Dynasty was then founded after driving out Muslim forces and set about consolidating the empire Macedonian Empire followed and this saw the revival of the arts and a somewhat of a golden age for the Byzantine. Saw numerous battles among the Bulgarians, Muslims, and eventually Normans With the Kommenian Dynasty the Byzantine saw the Crusades which would lead to its disintegration, giving way to Russia

Christian Orthodoxy Initially the Eastern Portion of the Empire followed the traditional Catholic ways Later n the 11 th century CE the church was split into Roman Catholicism and Christian Orthodoxy Based at Constantinople and had secular leaders, but did not recognize the authority of the Pope Believed Emperor to be Christ’s messenger for the populace Most powerful symbol of Orthodoxy was Hagia Sophia, built by Justinian

Orthodox Influence Most of art was spurred by religious influences Theological impressions were made to create strictly designed interpretations of the Orthodox belief system More symbolic in approach with less attempts to appease naturalistic principles Produced the very important aspect of Iconoclasm which spurred the schism between the Roman Catholic church and the Orthodox Used not only to symbolize religious pursuits but also to create imperial recognition for the Empire Iconoclasm was used to severely limit the expression of art in other forms, such as murals and mosaics

Government Involvement Initial Byzantine Economics involved strict government involvement in the exports and imports of the Empire Regulated interest rates and had a monopoly on coining currency Often intervened to prevent economic failures and to redistribute surplus through public works and burucratic salaries Constantinople remained on of the wealthiest cities in the world and many were impressed by the grandeur Intersecting the Eastern and Western world it became an important trade center, creating massive wealth However with the coming of the fourth crusades, the Empire fell into collapse with massive inflation and no economic structure Eventually contributed to the collapse of the Empire in 1453 CE