1. The Rise of the Byzantine Empire

2. The Reign of Justinian Goal: To reestablish the glorious Roman Empire
Reclaim lost land
Got back nearly all of the Roman land
Calls himself Caesar
Why would he do this?
Absolute Rule: Total Rule
Head of Church and State
How would this connection strengthen Justinian’s power?
Building campaign in Constantinople
Make it a glorious capital – rebuilding portions and taking on additional building projects
The Reign of Justinian

4. Constantinople as Center of Trade
Vendors selling goods from all over Asia, Africa and Europe.
Plague – 542 – 700 A.D.
Arrived on ships from India, which were infested with rats.

5. Constantinople Works on city fortifications
Hagia Sophia – Church of Holy Wisdom
Seen as symbol of the connection between Church and State.
Hippodrome – arena where chariot races were held
Nika Rebellion –
Riots between Greens and Blues
Dissatisfied with Emperor, call for him to be overthrown
Justinian debates the idea of fleeing city, Empress Theodora convinces him to stay
Sends in the Army and massacres all who oppose him

6. Constantinople

7. Hagia Sophia

8. Hippodrome

9. Justinian’s Code
Code of Roman laws that was the basis of imperial law for the Byzantine Empire.
Consisted of 4 Parts
The Code – Roman Laws
The Digest – Opinion’s of greatest legal minds
The Institutes – textbook for law students
The Novellae – New Laws
Deal with many areas of life – marriage, slavery, property, inheritance, women’s rights, and criminal justice.

10. The Role of Theodora Justinian name her Empress upon their wedding.
Would question her husband’s orders and pursued her own agenda.
Diplomacy: Conducted negotiations
Negotiated with Persians
Domestic Issues
Helped with natural disasters
Dealt with women’s rights
Built hospitals for the poor

11. Byzantine Culture Value Education Specifically Classical learning
Preserves classical Greek and Roman work, during a time when Europe will forget its classical roots.

12. Crash Course: Byzantine Empire
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