1. World History I Ms. Costas January 9, 2014
The Byzantine Empire
World History I
Ms. Costas
January 9, 2014

2. The Fall of Rome
After Rome became too big to control, Emperor Diocletian split the empire into two halves
Western Roman Empire
Capital: Rome
Eastern Roman Empire
Capital: Constantinople
The West became cut off from trade, began to fall
The East flourished, but was weakened over time as the West continued to fall
The capital of Constantinople was taken over an changed hands
Renamed the Byzantine Empire

3. Outlasting the Western Empire
Historians called Eastern Empire the Byzantine Empire
Named after the capital city’s original name of Byzantium
The Byzantine Empire lasted about 1,000 years after the Western Empire
Emperors were absolute rulers
Struggled against Germanic peoples, Huns, other groups
Lost much land to invaders

4. Emperor Justinian Justinian was emperor from C.E. 527 to 565
Reconquered lost Eastern Empire lands in Italy, Africa, Spain
Justinian began rebuilding the capital, which was damaged in a revolt
Rebuilt city walls; build schools, hospitals, courts, churches
Most famous church was Hagia Sophia

6. Theodora’s Historic Speech
If flight were the only means of safety, still I would not flee. Those who have worn the crown should never survive its loss… Emperor, if you wish to flee, well and good, you have the money, the ships are ready, the sea is clear. But I shall stay. I accept the ancient proverb: Royal purple is the best burial sheet

9. Preserving Roman Culture
Justinian’s Code – uniform code of law based on Roman law
Included laws on marriage, slavery, property, women’s rights, crime
Byzantines spoke Greek but considered themselves culturally Roman
Studied Latin, Greek, Roman literature and history
Eastern Empire preserved Greek and Roman culture
In former Western Empire, Germanic, and Roman cultures blended

10. The Church Divides
Division of the empire affected the Christian church
Caused by different cultural practices, limited contact between areas
Religious practices developed differently
In the east, the emperor had control over the head of the church
In the west, the lack of an emperor gave pope more responsibilities
Western Pope claimed control over churches in both the east and west
Eastern Church rejected the authority of the Pope
Christian Church split in 1054
Roman Catholic Church in the west, Eastern Orthodox Church in the east
Orthodox – “holding established beliefs”; catholic – “universal”
Split led to creation of two separate European civilizations

11. Religion & Government
Pope claimed authority over Christian emperors, kings
Roman Catholic Church influenced government in the west
Disagreements between church and kings later caused conflicts
Byzantine emperor was absolute ruler
Had power over spiritual head of Eastern Orthodox Church
Overall, had greater power than rulers in the west

12. The Byzantine Empire Collapses
New Arabian religion of Islam began in 600s
Muslim armies attacked Constantinople
Civil wars, attacks by Ottoman Turks, Serbs hurt Byzantine Empire
Only small section of empire remained by 1350
Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453
Ended the Byzantine Empire