The Byzantine Empire

Let’s Review: What happened to the Roman Empire? 284 C.E.: Emperor Diocletian first divided Roman Empire into 2 parts Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire Why did he do this? Empire was too big for one ruler! 330 C.E.: Constantine ruled both parts of the empire; moves capital from Rome to Constantinople 395 C.E.: Roman Empire divided forever

Rome Splits! Rome Splits

Let’s Review: What happened to the Roman Empire? Eastern Roman Empire Western Roman Empire *Greek-speaking *Capital (Constantinople) located here *Trade *Result: survives until 1453 C.E. *Latin-speaking *Unstable *Political chaos *Economic problems *Germanic Invasions *Result: falls in 476 C.E.

Constantinople: Capital of the Byzantine Empire Look at the map on the previous slide. Why was Constantinople’s location so great? ______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Justinian Rules the Empire Takes power in 527 C.E. Takes back/conquers most of the Western Roman Empire Ruled with absolute power In charge of the government and church

Justinian’s Accomplishments Justinian Code: Laws used throughout the Byzantine Empire Included laws for marriage, slavery, property, women’s rights, etc. Used for 900 years!! Public building program Hagia Sophia (church) Walls around Constantinople Preserved Greco-Roman Culture

Justinian’s Code Excerpt Read the excerpt below from Justinian’s Code. Then, answer the question that follows. You may work with the person next to you. Book I, Of Persons - VIII. Slaves Slaves are in the power of masters, a power derived from the law of nations: for among all nations it may be remarked that masters have the power of life and death over their slaves, and that everything acquired by the slave is acquired for the master. According to this law, what rights do slaves have?

Hagia Sophia

The Church Splits Christianity developed differently in the Western and Eastern Roman Empires Why? Distance Little contact between regions Result: Christian Church splits in 1054 Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church http://media.monroe.edu/SAFARI/montage/play.php?keyindex=206332&location=local&filetypeid=54

Christianity The Great Schism (1054) Roman Catholicism Eastern Orthodox

Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Church Compete Compete to convert others to their religion This is done by missionaries (people who spread religion and convert others) Eastern Orthodox converted many Slavs Saint Methodius and Saint Cyril Invented Cyrillic alphabet- written language created for Slavs Goal: let them read the Bible in their own language

Why did the Byzantine Empire fall? Plague during Justinian’s reigndecrease in population Estimate: 10,000 people died per day during 542 C.E. Foreign Invaders Attack Slavs, Bulgars, Russians, Arabs attack the empire for many years 1453: Ottoman Turks take over Constantinople End of Byzantine Empire