The Byzantine Empire

A New Rome Justinian, a new Caesar Sent Belisarius captured the old Roman Empire Ruled with absolute power Control of the Church

Life in New Rome Spoke Greek Justinian Code, served the Empire for 900 years Code, Digest, Institutes and Novellae Public Building Program Hagia Sophia education

Economy Main street, Mese Merchants Hippodrome “Nika Rebellion”

The Empire Falls Justinian died in 565 Plague of Justinian Bubonic plague Attacks from East and West Lombards from the west Avars, Slavs, and Bulgars from the North Sassanid Persians from the East Kept Enemies at Bay Bribes, diplomacy, political marriages and military power Ottoman Turks in 1453

The Church Divides A Religious Split Patriarch Chrysostom In the East Emperor Leo III opposed iconoclasm, restored later by Empress Theodora Pope was in favor of icons 1054, pope and patriarch excommunicated each other Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church