Byzantines, Russians, and Turks Interact Chapter 11

Section 1-The Byzantine Empire

A New Rome in a New Setting Justinian- Byzantine nobleman who took the Eastern Empire’s throne in 527. Belisarius (Justinian’s best general) captured Rome in 529. – Over the next 16 years Rome would change hands 6 times

The Byzantine Empire Byzantine emperors ruled w/ absolute power and were the head of the church Byzantine emperors had a dangerous job – 88 total emperors 29 died violent deaths 13 ran away

Life in the New Rome Justinian Code-Single uniform code of laws designed to rule the Byzantine Empire – Contained the Code, Digest, Institutes, and Novellae The Code-Contained 5,000 Roman laws The Digest- 50 volume collection of ideas from the greatest Roman legal minds in their history The Institutes-Textbook on how to use the laws The Novellae (New Laws)-Laws passed after 534 A.D.

Life in the New Rome Preservation of Greco- Roman culture- – Students learned Greek and Latin grammar and philosophy – Students also Memorized Homer Learned geometry and medicine

Life in the New Rome Hippodrome-Massive stadium that held 60,000 spectators and offered free chariot races and performances. – The site of the Nika Rebellion

Life in the New Rome Nika Rebellion-532 A.D. Two groups of angry protestors sparked city wide riots shouting “Nika” (meaning “Victory”) while also calling for the overthrow of Justinian and his government. – Justinian sent in his troops and slaughtered all 30,000 protestors inside of the Hippodrome

Life in the New Rome Empress Theodora- – Married Justinian in 525 A.D. – Former burlesque dancer – Most powerful woman in Byzantine history – Political Responsibilities- Met foreign envoys Passed laws Wrote to foreign leaders Built Churches

The Empire Falls The Plague of Justinian- 542 A.D. The bubonic plague swept through Constantinople killing nearly 10,000 people a day – Its believed that the plague came from India on the backs of rats

The Empire Falls Attacks from East and West – Byzantium faced constant attacks In order to keep their enemies at bay the Byzantines used: – Bribes – Diplomacy – Political marriages – Military power

The Church Divides Eastern Orthodox Christianity – Patriarch-Leading bishop of the church Still under the authority of the emperor – Icons-Religious images used in the Orthodox faith Roman Catholicism- – Pope-Head of the Catholic church Answers to God alone – Excommunication- Means you exiled or are outcast from the church

The Church Divides Cyrillic Alphabet- – Since many of the people spoke Slavic languages or Russian an alphabet was created in which the Slavic people could read the Christian bible.