Byzantine Empire

Main Idea  After the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, the Byzantine Empire emerged as the dominant eastern power, with Constantinople as its political, economic, and religious center. The empire lasted over 1,000 years.

Background:  1. Western half of the Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D.  2. Byzantium had already been rebuilt by Emperor Constantine, who then renamed the city Constantinople.

Geography and Cityscape of Constantinople  1. Built on seven hills and divided into 14 districts, like Rome.  2. Protected by 13 miles of walls, watchtowers, and gates.  3. Easily fortified site surrounded on three sides by water, bordering a natural harbor. Its location combined with its control of the Bosporus Strait made the city a crossroads (hub/center) for trade and shipping between Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Walls of Constantinople

A satellite view of the area. Europe Asia Black Sea Aegean Sea & sea trade routes? Can you see the remarkable location of Constantinople at the center of the ‘X’ of land

The Black Sea. The Bosphorus Strait. The Sea of Marmara. The Dardanelles Strait. Constantinople today known as Istanbul.

Geography and Cityscape of Constantinople  4. Adequate distance from Germanic invasions of the western empire.  5. Good location to protect Europe’s eastern frontier.  6. Seized by Turks in 1453 CE and renamed Istanbul; today it is a major city in modern Turkey.

Table Work  Why was Constantinople established as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire? - Protection of the eastern frontier -distance from Germanic invasions in the western empire -crossroads of trade -easily fortified site on a peninsula bordered by natural harbors

Role of Constantinople:  1. True center (or seat) of Byzantine power until the Ottoman conquest  2. Important in preserving classical Greco-Roman culture

Justinian and Theodora

How Justinian Was Described  While living, devout, determined, and energetic. Why?  After His Death, the historian Procopius referred to Justinian as two-faced and cruel in a “Secret History”

Byzantine Emperor Justinian— Legal Codes:  Justinian Code – sorted through old Roman laws and codified (established) a new code of law for the Byzantine Empire.  - It lasted for 900 years!  - complicated laws were simplified  - Significance – significant impact on European legal code

Table Work  What was the influence of Justinian’s codification of Roman law on the Byzantine Empire and later legal codes? It impacted European legal codes. What was Justinian’s influence on the expansion of the Byzantine Empire and its economy? He recovered much of the former Western Roman territories that had been lost to invaders and expanded trade as Constantinople became a crossroads for trade.

Achievements of Byzantine Emperor Justinian: 1. Re-conquered former Roman territories -- not Rome 2. Significantly expanded trade

Achievements of Byzantine Emperor Justinian: 3. Head of church & state 4. Placed a heavy emphasis on church building. - Hagia Sophia – Constantinople’s masterpiece of architecture and faith

One of Justinian’s greatest accomplishments - the construction of the beautiful Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom ~ The Hagia Sophia

And more achievements! 5. Ambitious ruler who came to the throne at age 45! 6. Drove barbarians out of North Africa, Spain, & Italy 7. Built bridges, churches, hospitals, libraries, & parks.

THEODORA!?!?!?  Married Justinian while in her 20’s, sometimes equaled or surpassed husband’s wisdom and skills.  Convinced her husband to crush Nika rebellion  Established Social Welfare programs for the poor  Worked for the rights of women

Theodora  In the bubble heads on your guided notes, write a statement about Theodora from the points of view of:  The poor  Women  Nika rebels  Justinian  Her friends

Play Movie  Play from 3:05’ to 4:45’  Make sure you answer questions  on worksheet. 

CLOSE  Name 4 Important things that Emperor Justinian accomplished? 1)Codification of Roman law 1)- This Codification of Roman law had an impact on European legal codes 2)Reconquest of former Roman territories 3)Expansion of trade 4)Building of churches, bridges, libraries, schools

OPEN  Why was Constantinople established as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire? 1)Could better protect the eastern frontier 2)Good distance from Germanic invasions in the western empire 3)Crossroads of trade 4)Easily fortified site on a peninsula bordered by natural harbors

Hagia Sophia- “Holy Wisdom” Movie embedded in pic. Play from 5’20” to 14’00”

HAGIA SOPHIA  1. Built during Justinian’s reign. Took 5-6 years to build  2. Known as the “Church of Holy Wisdom”  3. When Constantinople fell to the Turks, Hagia Sophia became a mosque; now it is a museum  Plain exterior symbolizes earthly life  Ornate interior symbolizes spiritual universe  Cathedral’s size, thick pillars, and enclosed space show Roman influence.  Intricate and ornate design shows Eastern influences

4. Byzantine architects invented the pendentives which connected the round base of a dome to a square building.

The combination of Greco-Roman and Middle Eastern influence are evident in the intricate decoration on this column.

Mosaics with gold-covered stones added more light to the huge interior of Hagia Sofia.

Byzantine Achievements in Art and Architecture: 1. art and architecture inspired by two things: Christian religion and imperial power 2. Icons – definition – religious images 3. Elaborate mosaics in public and religious structures

Icon/Mosaic in Hagia Sophia

Byzantine Achievements in Art and Architecture: 4. Hagia Sophia – most beautiful architectural achievement 5. Hippodrome – entertainment venue for chariot races and circuses

Hippodrome

Table Work  What were the contributions of Byzantine art and architecture? Icons Mosaics Hagia Sophia

Byzantine Culture: 1. Greek and Roman knowledge preserved in Byzantine libraries 2. Greek – primary language (as opposed to Latin in the West) 3. Church – Greek Orthodox Christianity 4. Continued flourishing of Greco- Roman traditions

The Division of the Christian Church:  Background: Distance and lack of contact slowly caused the doctrines and rituals of Western and Eastern Christianity to split in the 11 th Century.

East vs. West : A Religious Dispute Patriarch- head bishop of the east (Constantinople) Conflict about power of Pope (in west) and Emperor (in east) Regional differences made more conflicts arise Pope - head of the west (Rome)

The Western Church- Roman Catholic 1. Centered in Rome 2. Far from the seat of government power once the capital moved to Constantinople 3. Liturgy (services) conducted in Latin

The Western Church - Roman Catholic 4. The pope had authority over all other bishops 5. The pope had authority over all kings and emperors 6. Priests cannot marry and must remain celibate 7. Divorce is not permitted

The Eastern Church – Greek/Eastern Orthodox 1. Centered in Constantinople 2. Close to seat of government power once capital moved to Constantinople 3. Liturgy (services) conducted in Greek or local languages

The Eastern Church – Eastern Orthodox 4. The patriarch and other bishops head the church as a group 5. The emperor claimed authority over the patriarch and other bishops of the Byzantine Empire 6. Priests may be married 7. Divorce is allowed under certain conditions

Table Work  Which Church is the Roman Church? East or West?  Which Church is the Orthodox Church? East or West?  Identify the differences between the Eastern Church and the Western Church

The Great Schism  Icons (religious images)– Pictures of important Christians or sacred events. Can be mosaics, murals, wooden panels.  Those who did not believe in them were called Iconoclasts (Eastern Christians)  This was one of the breaking points for the split.

The Great Schism In 1054, the split between the Eastern and Western Churches was made permanent when the Pope (in the West) and the Patriarch (in the East) excommunicated each other.  Excommunication – definition: cast out from the church  This permanent split was called the schism

Table Work  Complete the Venn Diagram (handout)  You are welcome to work with the students at your table.

Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox They base their faith on the gospel of Jesus and the Bible They use sacraments such as baptism Their religious leaders are priests and bishops They seek to convert people Service are conducted in Latin The pope has authority over all other bishops The pope claims authority over all kings and emperors Priests may not marry Divorce is not permitted Service are conducted in Greek or local languages The patriarch and other bishops head the Church as a group The emperor claims authority over the patriarch and other bishops of the empire Priests may be married Divorce is permitted under certain conditions

Table Work  What was the basic cause of the schism (split) between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in 1054? The Byzantine Emperor and religious leaders in the East refused to accept the authority of the Pope in Rome.

Constantinople: The Crossroads of Byzantine Trade Russia: Fur, Honey, Timber France: Wine England Tin Spain: Cork Africa: Ivory, gold China: Silk India: Spices

Decline of Empire  Plague of Justinian that crippled Empire  In 542, 10,000 people were dying every day!  Attacks from East, West, and North  Slavs, Persians, Turks, and Russian invasions  Attempt to maintain power  Through political marriages, bribes and diplomacy  Walls kept the peninsula strong until 1453 when it fell to the Ottoman Turks  Split of the Church What goes up… … Must come down

BYZANTINE EMPIRE 550 AD

BYZANTINE EMPIRE 1050 AD

BYZANTINE EMPIRE 1350 AD

Ottoman Empire 1606 A.D.

Influence of Byzantine Culture on Eastern Europe and Russia: 1. Trade routes between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea led to exchange of ideas and culture 2. Eastern Orthodox Missionaries: spread their faith to the Slavic people of Russia and Eastern Europe

Influence of Byzantine Culture on Eastern Europe and Russia: 3. Cyril invented an alphabet for the Slavic languages so that the Slavs could read the Bible in their own tongue. This was called the Cyrillic alphabet 4. Church architecture and religious art

A Russian Orthodox Church in the Ukraine ~ very similar to the Hagia Sophia.

CLOSE  Why did the Byzantine Empire have so much influence on religion, culture, and trade in Russia and Eastern Europe? 1)Trade routes between Black Sea and Baltic Sea 2)Adoption of Orthodox Christianity by Russia and much of Eastern Europe 3)Adoption of Greek alphabet for the Slavic languages by St. Cyril 1)Called the Cyrillic alphabet 4)Church Architecture and religious art