BYZANTINE EMPIRE CHAPTER 11

DID ROME REALLY FALL??? The Western Roman Empire crumbled in the 5 th century when Germanic tribes overran Rome However, the Empire had been split into East & West

The Capital had been moved East to Byzantine…later to be renamed Constantinople The Eastern half of the Empire would live on for nearly 1000 years afterwards & Rome’s glory would live on! DID ROME REALLY FALL???

“THE CITY” Constantinople was important for a number of reasons Constantinople was important for a number of reasons The Center of Trade The Center of Trade The Center of Culture The Center of Culture The Center of the Government & Religion The Center of the Government & Religion Shipping from Mediterranean Trade from the Middle East Trade from Europe Trade from Asia

“THE CITY” Because it was so centrally located, everyone had to go through Constantinople The Russians did not even have a name for the city, they simply called it “THE CITY” Trade from Europe Shipping from Mediterranean Trade from Asia Trade from the Middle East

CHRISTIANITY IS ACCEPTED IN ROME In 313 A.D. Emperor Constantine ends the persecution of Christians after his stunning victory at Milvian Bridge In 380 A.D. Theodosius makes it the OFFICIAL religion of the Empire Constantine sees a Cross in the sky & has his soldiers baptized

GREAT SCHISM Christianity had spread all throughout the empire & in fact it became a necessity in order to function within it However, when the Empire split East & West  the differences in the church in the East & West became more significant St. Basil

GREAT SCHISM The issue of Icons helped split the Eastern & Western Churches Icons are religious images used to aid in worship

ICONOCLASM This is the deliberate destruction of Icons of religious symbols This is the deliberate destruction of Icons of religious symbols This comes from a literal interpretation of the 10 Commandments, which says that men should not make any “graven images” This comes from a literal interpretation of the 10 Commandments, which says that men should not make any “graven images”

GREAT SCHISM The other issue that led to a split in the church was that of “PAPAL AUTHORITY” or simply put…Did the Pope (West) have Authority over the patriarchs (bishop) in the East

A POLITCAL STRUGGLE The issue in the Christian Church at this time is about power  Who has power & over whom? The issue in the Christian Church at this time is about power  Who has power & over whom? In the East the Patriarch bowed to the Emperor / In the West the Pope believed he had authority over Emperor & Patriarch In the East the Patriarch bowed to the Emperor / In the West the Pope believed he had authority over Emperor & Patriarch

A POLITCAL STRUGGLE In the West, the Pope would eventually prop up his own Political leader  an Emperor to rule the “Holy Roman Empire” In the West, the Pope would eventually prop up his own Political leader  an Emperor to rule the “Holy Roman Empire” The Eastern / Western Split is the Result of a Political (Power) Struggle The Eastern / Western Split is the Result of a Political (Power) Struggle

TIMELINE OF THE SCHISM 730 – Emperor Leo III bans the use of icons People respond with riots The Pope (West) excommunicates the Byzantine Emperor 843 – Empress Theodora restores the icons 1054 – the Pope (West) & the patriarch (East) excommunicate each other

SCHISM CHRISTIANITY TODAY WESTEAST ROMAN CATHOLICISM PROTESTANTS REFORMATION BAPTIST, METHODIST, PENETCOSTAL, CHURCH OF GOD, MORMON, CHURCH OF CHRIST, PRESBRYTERIAN, ETC. ETC. ETC. IF YOU GOT AN OPINION FORM YOUR OWN CHURCH EASTERN ORTHODOXY

COMPARISION Look at p. 305 & Fill in the blanks on the churches listed below Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Similarities