1. Interactive Notebook Setup
10/24/2017
Byzantine Empire Notes
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2. Background
Byzantine Government
Byzantine Economy
Byzantine Culture

3. Background In the 300 CE Diocletian split the Roman Empire in two
Constantine briefly reunited the Western and Eastern Empire temporarily
Constantine moved the Roman capital to Byzantium
He also renamed the city Constantinople

4. Background The Western Roman Empire fell in 476
The Eastern Roman Empire would survive for another 1000 or so years
The Empire lasted from 330CE – 1453CE
This empire is often referred to as the Byzantine Empire, but they called themselves Romans

5. Byzantine Government
Developed theme system to secure borders, especially from the expansion of Islamic powers
Each theme (province) was militarily, legally, and bureaucratically overseen by a general
Peasant were given use of land in exchange for military service
DID NOT OWN THE LAND
Replaced the provincial bureaucracy of the Roman Empire

7. Justinian I
The most famous of the Byzantine emperors was named Justinian
Justinian ruled from CE
He hoped to return Rome to its former glory

8. Justinian I
Justinian’s wife Theodora had a lot of power & influence in the Byzantine Empire:
She met with & wrote to foreign leaders
She advised Justinian & helped him pass laws
She encouraged building of Christian cathedrals

9. Byzantine Government Justinian rebuilt the city of Constantinople
The city had been devastated by riots in 532
Undertook major infrastructure/public works projects
Included bridges, roads, walls, public baths, churches, schools, and underground reservoirs to hold the city’s water supply

10. Byzantine Government
Justinian ordered legal experts to consolidated old Roman laws into a single law code, called Justinian’s Code
It would also make sure that there were not any contradicting or confusing laws
Addressed issues of criminal justice, marriage, property, slavery, & women’s rights
Brought Christian morals into the law code

11. Byzantine Empire under Justinian

12. Byzantine Economy Asia Minor was extremely good for wheat production
Most wheat was produced by free peasants in theme system
Byzantine coins were the standard currency of Eastern Europe for 500 years

13. Byzantine Economy Constantinople was a manufacturing center
Glassware & mosaic
Thriving silk industry(Only silk producer in Europe)
Process spread from China
Government regulated production of silk
No single person could weave, dye, or sell silk
Jobs divided to prevent the creation of a monopoly

15. Byzantine Economy Established banks and business partnerships
Constantinople served as middleman connecting Asia and Europe economically on the Silk Road
It was perfectly located as a sort of middle group between Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa
Taxed merchandise that passed through empire

16. Byzantine Culture
Though the Byzantine empire had many connections to Rome it was most influenced by Greek culture
Maintained Greek and Roman culture/engineering
After the reign of Justinian Greek became the official language of the empire
Use of Greek opened up knowledge on Greek philosophy, science, and mathematics

17. Byzantine Culture
Orthodox Christianity was the state religion of the Byzantine Empire
The emperor was the head of both the church and political state
Known as Caesaropapism
Appointed the patriarch, aka head of the Church

18. Encouraged the blend of Greek, Roman, Persian and Middle Eastern architecture styles
The best known structure is the Church of Hagia Sophia whose name means “Holy Wisdom”

20. Basilica of San Vitale

21. Beardless Jesus, what the what!

22. Byzantine Culture The empire developed and ran state-organized schools
This lead to widespread literacy throughout the empire
Constantinople also had a leading school for the study of law, medicine, and philosophy