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The Byzantine Empire, Kievan Rus, and the Eastern Orthodox Church
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Divergent Forms of Christianity Rapid spread of Islam in 7 th -9 th centuries formed pockets of Christianity Nestorians – Focused in Persia, spread into Central Asia and China Coptic – Lived in Egypt under Muslim rule Ethiopia – Isolated from Christian world by Muslim expansion
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Division of the Roman Empire
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Byzantine Empire (476-1453 CE) Emperor ruled from Constantinople after 330 CE – Caesaropapism: ruled on political and religious matters Saw themselves as continuation of Roman Empire – Maintained Roman law, science, philosophy, engineering Greek became the official language Complex bureaucracy and elaborate court rituals – Aristocrats trained in Greek philosophy and literature
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Byzantine Expansion Powerful navy and army – Used Greek fire to defeat invading navies More urbanized than in the West Strong trade connections between the West and China, the Middle East – Luxury goods like silk, carpet, spices Increased taxation to fund military – Crippled peasants, strengthened aristocratic landowners
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Byzantine Expansion
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Revival of Roman Greatness Emperor Justinian (r. 527-565 CE) Code of Justinian – Rewrote and standardized Roman law Reconquered North Africa, the Balkans, parts of Italy Built churches
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Hagia Sophia
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Byzantine Decline Repetitive attacks in the East from Persians and Muslims, in the West from Bulgars and Slavs Battle of Manzikert (1074 CE): Seljuk Turks defeated Byzantine army – Began Turkish settlement in Anatolia Fourth Crusade (1204 CE): Western crusaders sacked Constantinople
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Christian Controversies Differing ideas within Christianity – Arianism: Christ was created from nothing – Nestorianism: Mary birthed Jesus the man, not Jesus the divine Church Councils convened to decide on orthodox doctrines – Heresy: beliefs opposed to orthodox beliefs
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Byzantine Art
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The Great Schism Western (Roman Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) Churches disagreed over several ideas – Use of leavened or unleavened bread in the Eucharist – Primacy of the Pope over other Christian leaders – Role of Constantinople in ruling Christianity – Clerical celibacy Both sides excommunicated each other in 1054 CE
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Kievan Rus (882-1240 CE)
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Kievan Rus Slavic tribes migrated from Central Asia into Russia – Mixed with Scandinavians Animistic belief system Organized into loosely-organized tribes and villages – Ruled by various princes Traded with Scandinavia and Byzantines along the Dnieper and Volga Rivers and Black Sea
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Vladimir the Great (r. 980-1015 CE) Prince of Kiev who took increasing control over other princes Considered converting to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – Wanted to unite his subjects Converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in 988 CE – Forced his subjects to convert
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Byzantine Impact on Russia Borrowed architectural styles, monasticism, icons, imperial control of the Church Cyril and Methodius sent as missionaries to Kievan Rus Began conversion and created Cyrillic alphabet
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