1. Byzantine Empire

2. Byzantine Basics
Continuation of Eastern portion of the Roman Empire (the West fell in 476 to Germanic invasions)
Ruled by caesaropapist ruler (combining secular and religious authority in one person)

3. Compare and Contrast: The West (Europe) v. Byzantines
West = breakdown of Roman society, law, custom, language
Byzantine East = retain Roman laws, customs, urban-centered life, & Greek language
Both = Christian, BUT
Great Schism = 1054; final division between Eastern Orthodox (led by patriarch) and Roman Catholic (led by pope) Christianity

4. Byzantine Achievements
Hagia Sophia Cathedral (“Holy Wisdom”)
Emperor Justinian (500s CE): “The Lawgiver” (systematically compiled Roman Law); re-conquered parts of Italy & N. Africa in Western Rome (draining the economy, unfortunately!)
Art = Religious Icons
Converted Russia to Orthodox Christianity

5. Byzantium Under Pressure
Invaded by Abbasid Islamic forces from (late 600s CE)
Strong gov’t control of economy (capital enriched at expense of rural areas)
Constantinople = very cosmopolitan
Conquered in 1453 by Ottoman Turks (Central Asians converted to Islam)