1. The Byzantine Empire
Constantinople: capital city of Byzantine Empire; ancient Byzantium; modern Istanbul
Constantine: Roman Emperor who moved capital to Byzantium
Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian and stopped persecution of Christians
Moved capital city to Byzantium in eastern empire, renamed it Constantinople

2. The Byzantine Empire
Strait – narrow body of water separating two land masses
Bosporus – strait separating Europe and Asia; connects Black Sea to Mediterranean
Citizens of Constantinople were still called Byzantines
Empire eventually split in two – one capital in Rome (Holy Roman Empire), one in Constantinople
The eastern half of empire was stronger and wealthier

3. The Byzantine Empire
Constantinople was at crossroads of land and sea trade routes
Was located on the Bosporus
City charged taxes for all goods passing through the city – grew wealthy

4. The Byzantine Empire
Justinian’s Code: collection of Roman laws and explanations for them and their use; became basis for many modern legal systems
476 Holy Roman (western) Empire falls
Justinian was a great Byzantine ruler
Main contribution was organizing laws in Justinian’s Code

5. The Byzantine Empire
Greek Fire: Ancient weapon that was a substance that would burn without going out – even in water; formula now lost to history
Emperors after Justinian had to fight many wars against neighbors
Greek Fire used to defend themselves

6. The Byzantine Empire
Schism: Split – usually between two groups who originally had similar beliefs
Byzantines were Christian
Celebrated differently from Christians in West
In 1054 founded their own church: Eastern (Greek) Orthodox
Christians in West were called Catholics

7. The Byzantine Empire Conflicts with Turks and others weakened empire
Catholic Christian Crusaders and Muslims often attacked empire
1453 force of 70,000 Muslim Turks laid siege to Constantinople
7,000 defenders held out for two months

8. The Byzantine Empire Empire fell in 1453
Muslims took over, rebuilt the city and renamed it Istanbul

9. The Byzantine Empire

10. The Byzantine Empire