 The Rise and Fall of the Byzantine Empire

How was Constantinople the New Rome?  When Germanic tribes came into Rome, Roman emperor Constantine moved east to the Mediterranean.  Named the city after himself.  Included pathways to the Balkans, to the Middle East and to North Africa.  Eastern Roman Empire  Byzantine Empire

Where was Constantinople located?  Located on the shores of the Bosporus, a strait that links the Mediterranean and Black Seas

Why was Constantinople important?  Key for trading  Linked Europe and Asia  Byzantine merchants sold: silks from China, wheat from Egypt, gems from India, spices from Southeast Asia, and furs from Viking lands in the north.

What does it mean to blend culture?  How did the Byzantine Empire have blended culture?

Emperor Justinian  Ruled from  Determined to revive ancient Rome  Reconquered North Africa, Italy, and southern Iberian Peninsula

Emperor Justinian  Fire- everything destroyed  Vowed to rebuild Hagia Sophia

Justinian’s Code  “Body of Law”  Legal writings of Roman judges  Rules were meant to unify the empire

Justinian as a Ruler  Justinian ruled as an autocrat  He had power over the Church  Was aided by his wife Theodora  Did not hesitate to pursue her own policies

Byzantine Government  Strong central government  Prosperous economy  Peasants did a lot of work  Had the strongest military force

Byzantine Empire under attack  Persians, Slavs, Vikings, Huns and Turks all attacked the Byzantine Empire.  Attacks were unsuccessful  Empire served as a buffer to the rest of Western Europe

Byzantine Christianity  There were differences between the Christianity that was being practiced in the two regions.  Emperor was appointed the patriarch- controlled Church affairs  The Great Schism

Byzantine/Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic Clergy had the right to marry Language: Greek Major holiday: Easter Don’t venerate icons Clergy don’t have the right to marry Language: Latin Major holiday: Christmas Venerate icons

The Great Schism  The pope and the patriarch excommunicated each other.  They treated each other as rivals

Crisis and Collapse  Struggle over succession  Constant wars  Local lords gained control of large areas

The Crusades  Wars between Christians and Muslims  Muslims were blocking routes for Christians to travel to Jerusalem  Crusaders burned cities  Venetian merchants had gained control of Byzantine trade

The fall of the Byzantine Empire  Ottomans surrounded Constantinople.  Brought cannons to attack  Turks destroyed protective walls  Mehmet II took over  Hagia Sophia  Islamic house of worship  Constantinople  Istanbul

Byzantine Art and Learning  Byzantine art was primarily based on religious and ruling figures  Mosaics- brought the Bible to life  Produced great books

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