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Published byMilton Robbins Modified over 9 years ago
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The Byzantine Empire
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I. A New Rome Western Roman Emp. crumbled in 5 th cent. Capital of East = Byzantium
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A. The Reign of Justinian East = Greece, N. Balkan Pen., Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Cyrenaica Emperor Justinian (r. 527-565) Led political, economic, intellectual, & artistic revival
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1. Theodora 525: married Justinian Helped change Byz. law regarding women Domestic violence Owning property Widow & custody Nika Revolt (532)
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2. Belisarius Commander-in-chief of army Regained former Roman territories in Med. Byz. reached its greatest height 533: recovered N. Africa 535: attacked & seized Rome (Ostrogoths)
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Byz. Emperors = absolute power headed state & church threat of assassination
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II. Life in New Rome Byz. Emp. developed its own character Roman ties?
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A. Justinian Code Panel of legal experts reviewed 400 yrs. of Roman law (outdated & contradictory) 1. the “Code” = 5,000 Roman laws (useful) 2. the “Digest” = summarized opinions of great Roman thinkers 3. the “Institutes” = textbook for law students 4. the “Novellae” = (New Laws), presented legislation after 534
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Decided legal questions regarding marriage, slavery, property, inheritance, women’s rights, & criminal justice 565: Justinian died, but code survived
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B. Creating the Imperial Capital Ambitious building programs Rebuilt fortifications of Const. Church building (connection betw. church & state) Hagia Sophia (“Holy Wisdom”) “the most splendid church in the Christian world” Completed in 537 “Solomon, I have outdone thee!” Enlarged palace Also, baths, aqueducts, courts, schools, hospitals
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Greco-Roman culture preserved Education focused on Greek & Roman lit.
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III. Strengths of the Empire Political, military, economic strength
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A. Political Strength Centralized govt. Skilled, efficient, well-paid officials Practiced shrewd diplomacy
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B. Military Strength Frontier forces, infantry, cavalry Rewarded soldiers w/land grants 590: instruction manuals for officers on military strategy Improved army weaponry 500s: built navy “Greek fire”
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C. Economic Strength Prosperous ag., manufacturing, & trade Const. = heart of emp. Strategic location on Bosporus betw. Asia & Europe Govt. = regulated trade & manufacturing
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IV. The Church Divides Christianity developed differently betw. West & East
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A. A Religious Split Patriarch (Rome, Const., Alexandria, Antioch, & Jerusalem) Pope (patriarch of Rome) = supreme authority in West (Byz. did not recognize) Debate over icons (holy pics = Jesus, Virgin Mary, & the saints)
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Byz. = iconoclasts (icons constituted idol worship & should be suppressed) 726: Emp. Leo III—outlawed icon worship in East West = pope of Rome summoned a council in 787 Opposition to icons = heresy
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Council threatened iconoclasts w/ excommunication Friction betw. Pope (Rome) & patriarch (Const.) Combined w/cultural & language diffs. 1054: Church split West = Roman Catholic Church East = Eastern Orthodox Church
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V. Decline of the Empire 1300s: Ottoman Turks rose to power 1453: captured Const. (Byz. Ended)
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