1. Byzantine Empire

3. Where did the name come from? Byzantium  Greek colony founded in 667 BCE  King Byzas The Byzantines called themselves either ‘Romans’ or ‘Greeks’. Byzantine: a modern invention.

4. The Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire did not face barbarian invasions  Wealthier due to trade routes  More protected cities  Easier to defend

5. Constantinople

6. Trade Almost all east/west trade passed through Constantinople Made the city the wealthiest in the world

7. Constantinople Most enlightened city of medieval Christendom  Churches  Palaces  Libraries  Universities  Theaters  Public Baths  Aqueducts  Best wall (outside of China) in antiquity. The Walls of Theodosius

8. Cistern Basilica

9. Political Structure Caesaropapism  Emperor was also the head of the Church  Chosen by God

10. Justinian and Theodora Imperial couple who strengthened the Byzantine Empire  Justinian  Born from a peasant family  Joined the army and rose to power  Theodora  Worked as a stripper and a prostitute  Served as wife and advisor to Justinian

11. Justinian and Theodora Justinian devoted resources to Constantinople  Churches – Hagia Sophia  Hippodrome Expanded empire through warfare Justinian Code

12. Hagia Sophia, Church of the Holy Wisdom, 6th c.

14. Justinian’s Code of Laws Origin of the English word “justice”  Women had more rights  They could own property  Children allowed to choose their own marriage partners  Punishments fit the crime

15. Nika Rebellion Problem at the gallows Rebellion of two political parties (Blues and Greens) 1/3 rd of city burned Shouted “Nika” (victory) to identify each other Theodora convinced Justinian to stay Rebels met in Hippodrome Justinian bribed Blues Greens slaughtered by army – 30,000 killed

16. Relations with Western Europe Different languages between east and west  Greek versus Latin Different interpretations of Christianity  Icons  Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other in 1054

17. Iconoclasm Temporary ban on all religious imagery Byzantines actually destroy many of their great works of art

18. Cultural Perceptions Byzantines saw Western Europeans as barbarians. Westerners saw Byzantines as sneaky and liars.

19. Decline and Collapse (1025-1453) The Crusades (1204)  Westerners stopped at Constantinople on their way to Holy Land  Constantinople sacked by Crusaders

20. The Fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders, 1204

21. The Fall of Constantinople to the Muslims In 1453 the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople. Renamed Istanbul and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.