1. THE COMMONWEALTH OF BYZANTIUM

2. I. The early Byzantium empire 1255

3. A- The later Roman empire and Byzantium Fifth century, eastern half of empire remained intact while west crumbled Fifth century, eastern half of empire remained intact while west crumbled Challenges: Sasanids and Germans Challenges: Sasanids and Germans

4. Highly centralized state Highly centralized state - Emperor with aura - Emperor with aura of divinity, of divinity, Caesaropapism Caesaropapism - Large and complex - Large and complex bureaucracy bureaucracy

5. Justinian (527-565 C.E.) and his legacy; Theodora (empress)

6. Rebuilt Constantinoble, including Rebuilt Constantinoble, including Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia

7. Codified Roman law Codified Roman law Corpus iuris civilis (The Body of the Civil Law) Corpus iuris civilis (The Body of the Civil Law)

8. Sent Belisarius to reconquer the western Roman empire (didn’t last) Sent Belisarius to reconquer the western Roman empire (didn’t last)

9. Islamic conquests and Byzantium revival The emergence of the Islamic state, seventh century The emergence of the Islamic state, seventh century Arab peoples conquered the Sasanid empire and part of Byzantium Arab peoples conquered the Sasanid empire and part of Byzantium Prolonged sieges of Constantinoble by Islamic armies Prolonged sieges of Constantinoble by Islamic armies Byzantium survived partly because of Greek fire Byzantium survived partly because of Greek fire

10. Byzantium society reorganized Provinces (themes) under generals Provinces (themes) under generals Armies of free peasants helped agricultural economy Armies of free peasants helped agricultural economy

11. Byzantine and western Europe: ecclesiastical and political tensions

12. Byzantine economy and society Rural economy and society Rural economy and society Large agricultural base to support cities Large agricultural base to support cities Economy strongest when large class of free peasants (themes) existed Economy strongest when large class of free peasants (themes) existed Economy weakened when large landholders consolidated and made peasants dependent Economy weakened when large landholders consolidated and made peasants dependent

13. Industry and trade Constantinople was major site of crafts industry Constantinople was major site of crafts industry Glass, linen, textiles, gems, jewelry, gold and silver Glass, linen, textiles, gems, jewelry, gold and silver Silk developed into major industry in sixth century; secrets came from China Silk developed into major industry in sixth century; secrets came from China

14. Constantinople was clearinghouse for trade Bezant was standard currency of Mediterranean basin Bezant was standard currency of Mediterranean basin Western anchor of trade route revived silk roads Western anchor of trade route revived silk roads

15. Banks and partnerships supported commercial economy

16. Urban life Housing in Constantinople varied widely by class Housing in Constantinople varied widely by class Attractions of Constantinople: baths, taverns, theaters Attractions of Constantinople: baths, taverns, theaters

17. Hippodrome used for mass entertainment

18. Chariot races most popular; Greens and Blues rivalry

19. III- Classical heritage and Orthodox Christianity The legacy of classical Greece The legacy of classical Greece Official language went from Latin to Greek Official language went from Latin to Greek State organized school system trained workforce State organized school system trained workforce Primary education: reading, writing, grammar Primary education: reading, writing, grammar Later education: classical Greek, literature, philosophy, science Later education: classical Greek, literature, philosophy, science Higher education in Constantinople: law, medicine, philosophy Higher education in Constantinople: law, medicine, philosophy

20. Byzantine scholarship emphasized Greek tradition Wrote commentaries on Greek literature Wrote commentaries on Greek literature Preserved and transmitted Greek thought to later cultures Preserved and transmitted Greek thought to later cultures

21. The Byzantine church Most distinctive feature was involvement of the emperor Most distinctive feature was involvement of the emperor Council of Nicaea (325 C.E.) in which Arianism was declared heresy Council of Nicaea (325 C.E.) in which Arianism was declared heresy Iconoclasm controversy (726-843) was started by Leo III Iconoclasm controversy (726-843) was started by Leo III

22. Greek philosophy applied to Byzantine theology Greek philosophy applied to Byzantine theology

23. Monasticism and popular piety Monasticism origins in early Christian ascetics (hermits) Monasticism origins in early Christian ascetics (hermits) “Pillar saints” like St. Simeon Stylite “Pillar saints” like St. Simeon Stylite St. Basil of Caesarea (329-379C.E.) organized monastic movement St. Basil of Caesarea (329-379C.E.) organized monastic movement

24. Mt. Athos, monastery in northern Greece from ninth century to present

25. Monks/nuns very popular with laity Provided social services to the community Provided social services to the community Opposed iconoclasm Opposed iconoclasm

26. Tensions between eastern and western Christianity Constantinople and Rome: strains mirrored political tensions Constantinople and Rome: strains mirrored political tensions Ritual and doctrinal differences, such as iconoclasm Ritual and doctrinal differences, such as iconoclasm Schism in 1054 – Eastern Orthodox versus Roman Catholic Schism in 1054 – Eastern Orthodox versus Roman Catholic

27. IV- The influence of Byzantium in eastern Europe Domestic problems and foreign pressures Domestic problems and foreign pressures Generals and local aristocrats allied; new elite class challenged imperial power Generals and local aristocrats allied; new elite class challenged imperial power

28. Western Europe took parts of Byzantium Normans in southern Italy and Sicily Normans in southern Italy and Sicily Crusaders carved out states and sacked Constantinople (1204) Crusaders carved out states and sacked Constantinople (1204)

29. Muslim Saljuq Turks invaded Anatolia, defeated Byzantines at Manzikert, (1071)

30. Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, the end of the empire

31. Early relations between Byzantium and Slavic peoples Byzantines began to influence Bulgarian politics and culture after the eighth century Byzantines began to influence Bulgarian politics and culture after the eighth century Cyrillic writing stimulated conversion to Orthodox Christianity Cyrillic writing stimulated conversion to Orthodox Christianity Education and religion tied together, led to more conversions Education and religion tied together, led to more conversions

32. Byzantium and Russia Mid ninth century, Russians started to organize a large state: Kiev Mid ninth century, Russians started to organize a large state: Kiev

33. The conversion of Prince Vladimir Kiev served as conduit for spread of Byzantine culture and religion Kiev served as conduit for spread of Byzantine culture and religion Cyrillic writing and literature and Orthodox missions spread Byzantine culture Cyrillic writing and literature and Orthodox missions spread Byzantine culture Byzantine art and architecture dominated Kiev: icons and onion domes Byzantine art and architecture dominated Kiev: icons and onion domes

34. Princes established caesaropapist control of Russian Orthodox church

35. Russian culture flourishes from eleventh century Moscow claimed to be world’s “third Rome“ Moscow claimed to be world’s “third Rome“ Sent out many missionaries from sixteenth century on Sent out many missionaries from sixteenth century on