ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE EAST

The Byzantine Empire

– Cultural Perceptions n Byzantines saw Western Europeans as “barbarians” n Westerners saw Byzantines as “sneaky” and “liars” – These differences drove both Byzantine and the West apart n Continue to influence relationship between Orthodox and Catholic churches today

WHY SO STRONG AND UNIQUE ? n Peninsula n Strong fortified walls n Crossroads for trade and culture n ROMAN-- Government and Laws n GREEK-- Day to day Lives n CHRISTIAN--Religion and Morality

THE GOVERNMENT n Caesaropapism – Different interpretations of Christianity n Caesaropapism in the east n The Emperor is also the head of the Church n Church and state separated in the west between Caesar and the Pope n Centralized authority and elaborate bureaucracy n Continued the legacy of the Caesars n Beginning with Constantine in the 300s CE n Elaborate court n Rituals surrounding the emperor became more intricate – Machines developed to impress barbarians n Theme system

The Byzantine Empire n Byzantine Society – Free peasants n originally the foundation of the empire n Served as backbone of the military n Gradually free peasants were squeezed out by large landowners – Forced to sell rights to their land to landlords – Became sharecroppers and serfs

THEME SYSTEM n Empire organized through the theme – A province under the control of a general n Generals responsible for military and civil affairs n Directly responsible to the central government n Allowed generals to raise armies quickly n Theme allowed Byzantine Empire to control southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean

The Byzantine Empire n Empire organized through the theme – A province under the control of a general Generals responsible for military and civil affairs Directly responsible to the central government Allowed generals to raise armies quickly Theme allowed Byzantine Empire to control southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean

The Byzantine Empire n Urbanization – Constantinople was the largest city in Europe – Had the same sophistication as Rome n Bath, libraries, aqueducts, coliseums n Chariot races popular – Education widespread throughout the empire n Basic literacy common through all classes n Learning in Greek rather than Latin

CHRISTIAN Emperor as church Represents idea of Roman Represents idea of Jesus Patriarchs lead the church in Eventual split with Roman church in 1054

SCHISM n Political dispute over the POPE and the PATRIARCH n Resentment over interference in ICON dispute( are they sinful? ) n Conflicts over translating Bible n Marriage of priests n Divorce n Bread in communion-body and blood? n Excommunicated each other

DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN DIPLOMACY n Political decisions by Economic sanctions n Marriage alliances n Threats n Spying

LAWS ORGANIZED WOMEN’S RIGHTS EXPANDED ARCHITECTURE FLOURISHED OLD BOUNDARIES REGAINED

JUSTINIAN’S CODE n Organized, clarified, simplified laws; ordinances, court records, judgements, and precedents from a Christian POV (death penalty gone) n CORPUS JURIS CIVILIS

n “Actress” n Strong sense of right and wrong n advised Justinian to put down boyars’ revolt n Men forbidden to beat wives n Women own goods and property n Widows raise children without outside interference

ARCHITECTURE n Greek and Roman techniques for: n roads n Public buildings n Churches n HAGIA SOPHIA impressed all who saw it

BLUE MOSQUE

HAGIA SOPHIA

B E L I S A R I U S – Sent general Belisarius to reclaim Italy, Sicily, northern Africa and Spain in 553 CE – Much of the old Western Roman Empire reconquered by 565 CE n However, did not remain part of the Byzantine Empire for long – Faced attacks from Slavs in the north and Persians in the east

WHAT ELSE n The Byzantine Empire faced new pressures from the rise of Islam – Islamic empire expanded to conquer Palestine, Egypt, and north Africa – Muslims made two attempts to conquer Constantinople (674-78, ) n Unsuccessful because of Constantinople’s location n Also because of “Greek fire”, a flamethrower

DECLINE AND COLLAPSE ( ) – Pressures from the West n Normans took over southern Italy and Sicily and challenged Byzantine control of the Mediterranean n The Crusades (1204) – Westerners stopped at Constantinople on the way to Holy Land – Constantinople sacked by Westerners

PRESSURES FROM THE EAST n Expansion of Islam gradually shrinks empire – Battle of Manzikert (1071) deals heavy blow to the Byzantines – Muslims gradually control Anatolia n Ottoman Turks conquer Constantinople in 1453 – End of the Byzantine Empire n Influence of Byzantine Empire – Spread of Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe n St. Cyril brings Christianity to Russia – Russian states emerge influenced by Byzantine culture and religion The Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire