1. The Byzantine Empire
Chapter 12.3

2. Tennessee SPI
SPI 6.64 Reflect on the impact of the lives of Cleopatra, Marc Antony, Nero, Diocletian, and Constantine, city of Constantinople on the Roman Empire

3. The New Rome Empire divided in AD 395
Eastern half known as Byzantine Empire
Extended west to Italy, south to Egypt, east to Arabian border
Greeks made up largest population
Empire grew under Emperor Justinian

4. Constantinople
Constantine moved empire’s capital from Rome to Byzantium
Byzantium renamed Constantinople
Location was crossroads of Europe’s/Asia’s trade routes
Became wealthiest part of Roman Empire
Was easy to defend, located on peninsula

5. Byzantium/Constantinople

6. Byzantines’ Culture Gov’t buildings/palaces built in Roman style
Hippodrome – arena for chariot races
Emperors spoke Latin, enforced Roman laws
Gov’t gave free bread/entertainment to poor
Over time Roman influence faded, Greek influence increased
Most spoke Greek; emperors/officials began to speak Greek instead of Latin

7. Byzantines’ Culture
Also shaped by Egyptian, Slavs, and Persian culture
All of these cultures blended to form Byzantine culture
Between AD became one of world’s most advanced civilizations
Passed on Greek culture and Roman Law
Brought Christianity to Eastern Europeans

8. Justinian’s Rule Ruled at height of Byzantine Empire
Skilled general, strong leader, ruled AD
Governed with supreme power
Controlled the military
Made all of Empire’s legal decisions
Viewed as Byzantine’s greatest emperor

9. Theodora Justinian’s wife; beautiful, intelligent, ambitious
Active in gov’t; helped choose gov’t officials
Helped win legal rights for women; could own land if widowed
Urged Justinian to stay and fight taxpayer revolt
Justinian crushed rebels, restored order

10. Justinian and Theodora

11. Justininan’s contributions
Area of law
Ordered Tribonian and legal scholar group to simplify code of laws
New legal code know as Justinian Code
Helped officials and businessmen understand the Empire’s laws
Basis for legal system of Western world

12. Byzantine Arts Justinian was into arts/architecture
Ordered construction of churches, forts, gov’t buildings throughout Empire
Hagia Sophia, or “Holy Wisdom”
Built by 10,000 laborers
Religious center of Byzantine Empire
Completed AD 537, still stands in Istanbul, Turkey

13. Hagia Sophia

14. Mosaics
patterns/pictures made from colored glass or stone
honored saints, Christian Holy people, emperors
Education
Boys – studied religion, medicine, law, arithmetic grammar
Girls – did not attend school, taught at home

15. Military Conquest Justinian wanted to restore Roman Empire
General Belisarius led army
Calvary soldiers – mounted on horses, carried bows and lances
A.D conquered former Roman Empire territories; Italy, Spain, N. Africa
“Justinian’s Plague” killed millions, weakened Empire