The Byzantine Empire, Russia and Eastern Europe

Medieval Times The time between the fall of Rome in the West and the Renaissance 1000 years) Byzantine Empire: advanced and prosperous Western Europe: state of decline and war

Constantine Moved the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire to Byzantium (present-day Istanbul, Turkey) Renamed it Constantinople Legalized Christianity The Eastern Roman Empire became the Byzantine Empire

Why was Constantinople chosen as the capital? center of trade due to its location on a strait between the Black and Mediterranean Seas

built on a peninsula fortified with land and sea walls and protected by the Eastern frontier

distant from Germanic invasions in West

Justinian Conquered many former Roman territories Expanded trade

Codified Roman laws “Justinian’s Code” These law codes were later adopted by European kings

Byzantine Culture Greco-Roman traditions continued to flourish. Greek was the official language (as contrasted to Latin in the west)

Byzantine Art and Architecture Architecture - domed buildings like the Hagia Sophia (Christian Church)

Constantinople and the Hagia Sophia

Mosaics: Pictures made up of thousands of tiny glass, ceramic, and stone tiles

Icons: Religious images Paintings and mosaics often used gold paint; the pictures seemed to glow.

Icons

Libraries: Byzantine monks copied and illustrated ancient Greek and Roman works, preserving them for future generations.

Schism Cultural and political differences between the East and the West caused the Christian Church to divide (schism).

Centered in Rome Latin used in the liturgy (church service) Pope eventually accepted as the leader Practices such as celibacy eventually accepted (priests could not marry). Became known as the Roman Catholic Church Western Church

Eastern Church Centered in Constantinople Used Greek in the liturgy Headed by Patriarch (eventually) Priests continued to be allowed to marry. Became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church (Greek Orthodox Church)

Byzantine Culture

Crusades In 1093, Byzantine emperor Alexis I sent a letter to the West asking for help against the Muslim Turks (Seljuks) who were threatening Constantinople and attacking Christian Pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. Alexis I

Crusades Pope Urban (of Rome) called for a crusade or holy war to regain control of the Holy Lands (holy sites in and around Jerusalem).

Crusaders Attack In 1204 Constantinople (a Christian city) was sacked (attacked, burned, and looted) by Christian Crusaders from the West. The Crusades weakened the Byzantine Empire, but did not put an end to it.

Ottoman Conquest Ottoman Turks (Muslims) conquered what remained of the Byzantine Empire in 1453.

Constantinople was renamed Istanbul and became capital of the Ottoman Empire

Decline of the Byzantine Empire

Influence of Byzantine Empire on Russia and Eastern Europe Russia and Eastern Europe were influenced by the Byzantine Empire through trade and Christian missionaries. Due to a lack of geographic barriers, they were frequently invaded by nomadic groups

Orthodox Christianity Art (icons) and architecture (onion domes). Cyrillic Alphabet

Saint Cyril Missionary who adapted the Greek alphabet to Slavic languages of Eastern Europe and Russia (so that they could read the Bible).

The Cyrillic alphabet gave the Slavs a written language and helped spread Christianity in Russia and Eastern Europe. Cyrillic Alphabet

Russian Orthodox Church Byzantine influence is seen here in art, in architecture (onion domes), and religion.

Russian Icons St Nicholas “Santa Claus”

Byzantine Empire Influences Russia

Invaders of Russia and Eastern Europe Vikings Magyars Mongols Ottoman Turks

Vikings Seafaring invaders from Scandinavia who settled in Russia At first they made slaves of the local people (Slavs), but eventually adopted slavic culture.

set up trade routes along rivers between the Black and Baltic Seas. sailed to from the Baltic to Constantinople and trading amber and other goods.

Vikings

Magyars Nomadic herders from Central Asia who invaded Europe Settled in Hungary

Mongols Fierce nomads from Central Asia Invaded Russia, China, and Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia.

Mongol Empire Created an Empire

Ivan the Great Freed Moscow from the Mongols United and expanded the Russian Nation Ivan the Great

Took the title of “Tsar” (from “Caesar”) Ruled with absolute power

Ivan the Great Appointed himself protector of the Orthodox Church

WestEast Name of Religion Roman CatholicEastern Orthodox LanguageLatinGreek CenterRomeConstantinople Marriage of priests Priests celibate (eventually accepted) Priests continued to marry Religious Leader Pope eventually accepted Patriarch (chosen by emperor)

These four horses (bronze) were made for Alexander the Great. The Roman Emperor August had them shipped from Alexandria to Rome. The Emperor Constantine had the horses transferred to Constantinople where they were shown in the Hippodrome. The Venitians (Fourth Crusade, 1204) took the horses as loot and displayed them before the Church of San Marco in Venice.