1. Byzantium

2. The Creation
Constantine rebuilt the port city Byzantium on the Bosporus strait
Respond quickly to Germanic tribe invasions
Be close to his own eastern provinces
Renamed city to Constantinople
Eastern empire gets focus
Develops independently from Western empire

4. Justinian
Communication troubles between Eastern and Western empires (Divided into 2)
Justinian becomes emperor of Eastern empire
Not a well liked man
Wanted to gain control over both empires
Sent Belisarius to rover North Africa
2 yrs later -> attacks Rome
Justinian eventually rules most of Italy and parts of Spain

5. Absolute Power Emperors head both church and state
Constant risk of assassination
Many would step down in fear

6. New Rome Byzantine empire differs from Western empire
Few spoke Latin (Greek)
Belonged to eastern branch of Christian church
Justinian sets up panel of 10 experts
Created laws known as Justinian Code

7. Justinian Code Consisted of 4 works
The Code (laws)
The Digest (thoughts from thinkers)
The Institutes (how to use laws)
The Novellae (new laws presented)
Decided legal questions -> marriage, slavery, property, inheritance, women’s rights, and crimes
Code lasts 900+ years

8. Creating an Imperial Capital
Justinian begins major building program
Rebuilt crumbling fortifications of Constantinople
Glorified and built churches
Hagia Sophia
Builds baths, aqueducts, law courts, schools, and hospitals

11. Constantinople’s New Structure
Main street (Mese) ran through center of city
Merchants set up along this path
Roofs were built to shelter people
Hippodrome = area to enjoy free entertainment
Chariot races and circus acts

12. Learning
Families sent children to public schools and hired private tutors
Focus on Greek and Latin grammar and philosophy as well as math
Studied Homer
Learned Geometry
Learned Medicine

13. Confrontation Justinian dies -> almost collapsed multiple times
Horrible plague in Constantinople (10k people dying a day)
Enemies begin to attack from all sides
Lombards in West
Persians in East
Arab armies begin to attack

14. Defense First tried bribes, diplomacy, and political marriage
Did not work
Heraclius shifts focus towards military strength
Provinces become themes (military districts)
Each run by a general
Constantinople finally falls to Ottoman Turks in 1453

15. The Turks and Anatolia

16. March From Central Asia
East of Constantinople and South of Russia the Abbasids ruled a Muslim Empire
Noticed military skills of the Turks
Began to buy children to raise as slaves, trained soldiers, and employed bodyguards
Military slaves become more powerful then the Abbasids
Eventually Persian armies move into Baghdad and take over politically

17. Rise of the Seljuk's
Large numbers of Turks begin to migrate into the weakened Abbasid Empire
One of first groups was the Seljuk's
Seljuk's converted to the Sunni branch of Islam
Attack and capture Baghdad from the Persians
Then move into the Byzantine Empire and capture it
Closest anyone has come to conquering new Rome

18. Persian Support Seljuk rulers (shahs) gain support of Persian captives
Isfahan (Persian City) was made capital of kingdom
Seljuk rulers place Persians as gov’t officials
Seljuk's looked to the Persians for learning
Unfamiliar with the Islamic traditions
Adopted the Persian language
Supported Persian artists and architects

19. Crusaders and Mongols Malik Shah was last of the strong Seljuk leaders
Unexpected death
Seljuk Empire becomes loose collection of minor kingdoms
West launches attacks on Turks called crusades

20. Seljuk's and Crusaders Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade (1095)
Wanted Christians to regain control of Jerusalem
Marched through Constantinople into Palestine
1099 -> captured Jerusalem and killed all Jewish and Muslim inhabitants
Muslims recapture Jerusalem in 1187
Newer popes called for more crusades
Keep getting weaker

21. Seljuk's and the Mongols
Genghis Khan and Mongols become new threat to the Seljuk's from the East
Previously defeated China
Mongol armies would level cities and slaughter everyone
Mongols held the biggest empire in history
Knew little about the political side