2. Definition Byzantine: this term is a modern invention. The Byzantines called themselves either ‘Romans’ or ‘Greeks’. Invented by the classical scholar Hieronymus Wolf and popularized by Montesquieu (1700s) It was used for the medieval Greek-speaking, Christian empire that dominated the eastern Mediterranean. The ancient Greek city of Byzantium was founded in 667 BC by king Byzas. In antiquity, because of its strategic location, it was an important center for the transport of corn to Attica.

3. Bosporus

6. Restored walls of Constantinople

7. Justinian I r. 527-565

8. Theodora Empress Theodora served as one of the closest advisers to her husband, Emperor Justinian. Though her enemies deplored her humble origins and her Monophysite beliefs, she won the loyalty of ordinary subjects, many of whom shared her religious tendencies and received her protection. In hindsight, Byzantine observers believed she had exerted a moderating influence over Justinian, who, after her death in 548, grew increasingly intolerant of religious doctrine deemed heretical. (

10. Hagia Sophia built between 532-537

11. Interior of Hagia Sophia

12. Heraclius I r. 614-641 the first Greek speaking Emperor

13. Byzantine Empire by 626 A.D under Heraclius, Striped areas are lands threatened by the Sassanids

14. Leo III, Leo The Isaurian Byzantine emperor (717–741), who founded the Isaurian, or Syrian, dynasty, successfully resisted Arab invasions, and engendered a century of conflict within the empire by banning the use of religious images.

15. Invented in the seventh century by Callimachus, a Syrian engineer, Greek fire was a mixture formed from petroleum, sulfur, saltpeter, and lime that ignited on contact with water.

16. Byzantine and Sassanid Empires, c. 600

18. BASIL II (976-1025) The legendary, most glorious emperor of Byzantium. Suppressed revolt of Vardas Skeleros after an alliance with Vladimir I of Kiev. With notorious ruthlessness he suppressed the power of the great landowners and protected the middle classes.

19. Byzantium During the 9 th and 10 th centuries, the power of the Abbasid caliphate went into a decline – However, they were still a threat to the Byzantine state Another threat came from the north in the form of the Viking (Rus) invaders – They had strong trade connections with the Abbasids Byzantine Revival – St. Cyril and St. Methodius convert Balkan Slavs to Orthodox Christianity – A new written language Old Church Slavonic (Cyrillic alphabet) – Annexation of Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia

20. Byzantium Byzantium was also involved in a number of key conquests – Eastern conquests against the Abbasids in the 930s and 970s Military and commercial alliance with the western Russia There were still a number of key threats to Byzantium – Venice, Pisa and Genoa emerge as dominant traders in the eastern Mediterranean – Growing power of Fatimid Egypt The biggest threat was from the Seljuk Turks – A Sunni Muslim group that moved into Anatolia – Defeated imperial forces at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 – The Turks were now threatening the existence of Byzantium

22. The Byzantine Empire at the accession of Alexios I Komnenos, in 1081

23. The Byzantine Empire in 1081

24. Latins capture Constantinople, 1204

25. The Migrations of the Slavs. Originally from east-central Europe, the Slavic people broke into three groups. The western Slavs converted to Catholic Christianity, while the eastern Slavs and southern Slavs, under the influence of the Byzantine Empire, embraced the Eastern Orthodox faith.

26. The Topography of Russia

27. Kievan Rus, ca. 900

28. ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE  First ruler = RURIK (862-879) Centered around Novgorod – on major trade route Trade Route: “From the Varangians to the Greeks” THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

29. ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE  First ruler = RURIK (862-879) Centered around Novgorod – on major trade route  OLEG = regent until 912 Expanded south & east Occupied Kiev & built it up as cultural & economic center THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

30. THE RURIKID DYNASTY  IGOR (r. 913-945) Continued expansion Strengthened state  OLGA (Regent, 945-962) Reformed administration Converted to Christianity, 955  SVIATOSLAV (r. 962-972) Continued expansion Overthrew Khazar Khanate Killed by Pechenegs, 972 THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

31. THE RURIKID DYNASTY  VLADIMIR (r. 980-1015) Converted Kievan state to Christianity EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT EVENT:  brought Russia into Christian world  closer ties with Greek/Byzantine world  set Russia apart from West  introduction of written language: Church Slavonic THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

32. THE RURIKID DYNASTY  Civil war, 1015  SVIATOPOLK THE DAMNED Killed brothers Boris & Gleb  IAROSLAV Defeated Sviatopolk, 1019 Split realm with MSTISLAV Became Grand Prince, 1036 THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

33. THE RURIKID DYNASTY  IAROSLAV THE WISE (1036-1054) High point of Kievan culture & society Promulgated PRAVDA RUSSKAIA Defeated external enemies THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’