The Byzantine Empire and the Fall of Rome

Roman Empire at its height 117 C.E.

The Division of the Roman Empire In 284 CE Diocletian became Roman emperor. He decided that the Roman empire could only be ruled effectively by splitting it into two parts. Diocletian ruled the Eastern Roman Empire.  Before he left town, Emperor Diocletian moved a great deal of Rome's money over to the Eastern Roman Empire.

Division of Rome The Western Roman Empire (Europe/North Africa) included the city of Rome.  The Eastern Roman Empire (Turkey/parts of Asia) included the city of Byzantium.  

Roman Empire 284 CE

Constantine Constantine succeeded Diocletian as emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. Constantine rebuilt the old Greek port of Byzantium, at the entrance to the Black Sea. He renamed it Constantinople and made the city the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Constantinople From World History: Connections to Today Prentice Hall, 2003

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire The West was ruled by young, inexperienced emperors Enemies like the Germans and Goths realized that the new young emperors were weak and so this was a good time to attack. Roman generals also saw this weakness and revolted. With the invasion of Germanic forces from the north, the Western Roman Empire was conquered and further divided. This left the eastern part of the Roman empire to carry on the Greco-Roman tradition.

Byzantine Empire During the reign of Justinian(527-565), it started to recover much of the territory of the old Roman empire.

The New Rome The Byzantine Empire was wealthy and produced: gold, silk, grain, olives and wine. It traded these for spices, ivory and precious stones from countries as far away as China and India along the Silk Road trade routes.

Justinian and Theodora Autocrat – ruler who has complete authority Justinian ruled as an autocrat with the help of his wife, Theodora. Created a huge Christian empire Empire reached its greatest size

Justinian’s Code Most important contribution was that he created Justinian’s Code – which organized all the laws of ancient Rome. He simplified Roman law by codifying laws into The Body of Civil Law Basis for law until 1453.

Justinian’s Code of Laws Women could own property and raise their own children after their husbands died. Children allowed to choose their own marriage partners. Slavery was legal and slaves must obey their masters. Punishments were detailed and fit the crime His work inspired the modern concept of "justice".

The Age of Charlemagne Around 800 CE Western Europe was briefly unified. A Christian pope proclaimed Charlemagne “Emperor of the Romans” reviving the idea of a unified Christian world It widened the split between Eastern and Western Christianity

During the Middle Ages two distinct Christian churches emerged Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox

The Great Schism Roman Catholic Church was the branch of Christianity in the west Greek Orthodox Church was the branch of Christianity in the east

Roman Catholic Church Pope claimed authority of the church Priests could not marry Official language was Latin Major holiday is Easter Use icons, or images, of the Virgin Mary, Jesus and saints

Greek Orthodox Church Rejected pope as the authority, patriarch Kept their right to marry Official language was Greek Major holiday was Easter Ban use of icons, or images, because violated commandment against worshiping “graven images.”

Venn Diagram Roman Catholic Church Greek Orthodox Church

The End of the Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire drew to a close in 1453 when forces from the Muslim Ottoman Empire surrounded and conquered Constantinople. The ancient Christian city was renamed Istanbul and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Assignment Complete the reading guide for pages 107-112 in the Contemporary World History textbook.

Work cited http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/history/fall.htm http://ancienthistory.pppst.com/rome.html http://rome.mrdonn.org/twoempires.html