Byzantine Empire Mr. Millhouse AP World History Hebron High School

Fall of the Roman Empire 164—Plague spreads through Rome 180—End of Pax Romana 300—Diocletian divides the Empire 313—Christianity tolerated 410—Visigoths sack Rome 455—Vandals sack Rome 476—Fall of the Western Roman Empire

Eastern Rome: A Survivor Society Constantine established the Eastern capital at Byzantium Constantinople Reasons for Survival Higher level of civilization Fewer nomadic invasions Geography Prosperous commerce

Justinian ( ) Byzantine empire reached greatest size Wanted to rebuild Roman Empire Temporarily Re-conquered N. Africa, Italy and southern Spain Wife, Theodora, had considerable power Rebuilt Constantinople Hagia Sophia Justinian’s Code

Byzantine Empire under Justinian

Hagia Sophia

Threat of Islam Arab peoples conquered parts of ByzantiumArab peoples conquered parts of Byzantium Prolonged sieges of ConstantinopleProlonged sieges of Constantinople Byzantine survived partly because of "Greek fire"Byzantine survived partly because of "Greek fire" Imperial organizationImperial organization Government run by trained bureaucracy & armyGovernment run by trained bureaucracy & army Theme SystemTheme System Provinces organized on a military basisProvinces organized on a military basis Ruled by a general who ran army & civil bureaucracyRuled by a general who ran army & civil bureaucracy Responsible for protecting peasantsResponsible for protecting peasants Aristocrats limited by army, emperor, & bureaucracyAristocrats limited by army, emperor, & bureaucracy

Byzantine Empire

Constantinople “Second Rome” Key trading route linking Europe, Africa and Asia Buffer between Western Europe and Asia Europe’s busiest marketplace

Byzantine Economy Government prevented wealthy from seizing peasant’s landGovernment prevented wealthy from seizing peasant’s land Free peasantry declined in the 11 th centuryFree peasantry declined in the 11 th century Craftsmen and merchants were respectedCraftsmen and merchants were respected Glassware & mosaicsGlassware & mosaics Thriving silk industryThriving silk industry Monopolized by the governmentMonopolized by the government

Great Schism (1054) Byzantine emperors tended to combine political and religious authorityByzantine emperors tended to combine political and religious authority Dispute over use of iconsDispute over use of icons Iconoclasm—Attempt to suppress icon veneration in 8 th c.Iconoclasm—Attempt to suppress icon veneration in 8 th c. Schism occurs in 1054Schism occurs in 1054 Final break over the type of bread used in the mass and the celibacy of priests Or was it?

Catholicism vs. Orthodox Western EuropeWestern Europe Pope in RomePope in Rome Priests practice celibacyPriests practice celibacy Latin LanguageLatin Language Most important holy day ChristmasMost important holy day Christmas Eastern Europe Patriarch in Constantinople Clergy could marry Greek Language Most important holy day Easter

Effects of the Great Schism

Byzantine Culture Cultural FoundationsCultural Foundations Christian beliefsChristian beliefs Greek learningGreek learning Roman engineeringRoman engineering Byzantine EducationByzantine Education State-organized schoolsState-organized schools Widespread literacyWidespread literacy Chariot RacesChariot Races Blues vs. GreensBlues vs. Greens Riot of 532Riot of 532

Byzantine Decline The long decline began in 11th century. Seljuk Turks seized most of the Asian provinces Remove an important source of taxes and food Crusaders, led by Venetian merchants, sacked Constantinople in 1204 A smaller empire struggled to survive for another two centuries In 1453, the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople

Byzantine Challenges

Byzantine Empire

Rise of Russia Area inhabited by SlavsArea inhabited by Slavs Vikings arrive using river systemVikings arrive using river system Set up state based on trade & conquest around 9 th CenturySet up state based on trade & conquest around 9 th Century State founded by RurikState founded by Rurik Capital at KievCapital at Kiev People called RusPeople called Rus

Russia & Christianity Prince Vladimir converted in 989 Converted for trade, commercial reasons Elites baptized by order of prince, often against will Served as conduit for spread of Byzantine culture, religion Cyrillic Alphabet

Kievan Rus “Third Rome” Decentralized government Divided into provinces Constant strife between boyars and princes Constant threat of nomadic invasion