1. Chapter 10 The Worlds of Christendom
Christian Contraction in Asia and Africa
Byzantine Christendom: Building on the Roman Past

2. Chapter 10 Introduction
500s and 600s, Christianity had large communities across large regions of Afro-Eurasia.
Next 100 years, most of these communities vanished.
Christianity = European
By 1300, Christianity provided common ground for third wave societies in western Eurasia.
But Christianity was deeply divided

3. Divide w/in Christendom
Byzantine Empire continued the traditions of the Greco-Roman world until they were conquered in 1453 C.E.
Eastern Orthodoxy evolved w/in the third wave
Roman imperial order disintegrated in the west.
Roman Catholic Church of the West established independence from political authorities; Eastern Orthodox did not.
Western Europe after 1000 as a hybrid civilization of classical, Germanic, and Celtic

4. Christendom in the 3rd Wave Era
Christendom in the era of third wave civilizations is one of contractions and expansions.
Sharp contractions in Asia and Africa
Expansion in Western Europe and Russia
Christian Byzantium contracted and ultimately disappeared
Western Europe contracted but later expanded

5. Contractions in Asia
Islam’s spread was a driving force in the contraction of Christianity.
Asian Christianity:
w/in a century of Muhammad’s death, Christianity almost disappeared from Arabia
Islamic forces seized Jerusalem and its holy sites
Syria/Persia – Christians converted voluntarily
Nestorian Christians or the Church of the East survived but shrank in Syria, Iraq, and Persia.
Nestorians had mild success in Tang China (brief revival Mongols)

6. Contractions in Africa
Coastal North Africa Christians largely converted to Islam.
In Egypt, Coptic Church survived
Tolerated by Muslim rulers
Rural C.C. convert, survived in urban areas
Nubia Kingdom (5th and 6th century) = Christian
Largely disappeared by 1500 C.E.
Ethiopian Christianity an exception
Rulers of Axum adopted Christianity in the 4th century
Geography
Developed distinct traditions in isolation

7. Byzantine: Building on the Roman Past
The Byzantine Empire has no clear starting point
Continuation of Roman Empire
Some scholars point to 330 C.E. with founding of Constantinople
Western empire collapsed in 5th century; eastern half survived another years
Byzantine advantages over western empire:
Wealthier and more urbanized
Defensible capital city
Shorter frontier
Access to Black Sea; command of eastern Mediterranean
Stronger army and navy
Conscious effort to preserve Roman ways

8. The Byzantine State Arab/Islamic expansion reduced size of the state
Politics centralized around emperor in Constantinople
Territory shrank after 1085, as western European and Turks attacked
Fell in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks

9. Byzantine Church and Christian Divergence
The church was closely tied to the state: “caesaropapism”
Byzantine emperor was head of both the state and the church
Emperor appointed the patriarch, sometimes made doctrinal decisions, called church councils
Orthodox Christianity deeply influenced all of Byzantine life
Made imperial rule legitimate
Provided a cultural identity
Pervasiveness of churches
Even common people engaged in theological disputes

10. Byzantine Church and Christian Divergence
Eastern Orthodox increasingly defined itself in opposition to Latin Christianity
Latin Christianity was centered on Pope
Growing rift between the two (East and West)
With Islam, Constantinople and Rome remained as sole hubs of Christendom
Important East West cultural differences
Language, philosophy, theology, church practices
Mutual excommunication
Crusades worsened the situation
4th Crusades, westerners sacked Constantinople (1204) and ruled

11. Byzantium and the World
Byzantium had a foot in Europe and Asia
Continuation of long Roman fight with the Persian Empire
Weakened both states, left them open to Islamic conquest
Persia was conquered by Islam; Byzantium lost territory
Byzantium was a central player in long-distance Eurasian trade
Bezants (Byz gold coins) was major Mediterranean currency – 500 years
Byzantine crafts were in high demand
Important cultural influence of Byzantium
Transmitted Greek learning; transmitted Orthodox Chr. To Balkans &Russia

12. The Conversion of Russia
Most important conversion was that of Prince Vladimir of Kiev
Orthodoxy transformed state of Rus; became central to Russian identity
Moscow finally declared itself to be the “third Rome,” assuming role of protector of Christianity after fall of Constantinople.