The Byzantine Empire and The Crusades Topic 1

Roman Empire

The Reign of Justinian 5th century, Germanic tribes from the north move into the western Roman Empire. Fleeing the Huns Eastern Roman Empire continued to exist. Justinian became emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire in 527. Capital is Constantinople.

Roman Empire

He restored the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean to include Italy part of Spain North Africa Asia Minor Palestine Syria. His most important contribution was his codification of Roman law in The Body of Civil Law. It was the basis of the European legal system.

From Eastern Roman Empire to Byzantine Empire Justinian’s conquest left the Eastern Roman Empire with serious problems: Too much territory to protect far from Constantinople Empty treasury Population decline due to a plague Frontier threats. Most serious challenge was Islam Unified Arab forces that invaded the Eastern Roman Empire. By 8th Century empire lost Syria and Palestine Now consisted of Eastern Balkans and Asia Minor, known as the Byzantine Empire.

Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire was both a Greek and Christian state, built on Christian faith. Greek replaced Latin as the official language. Christian church of the Byzantine Empire came to be known as the Eastern Orthodox Church. Byzantines believed Emperor was chosen by God. The emperor appointed the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, known as the patriarch. As a result, the emperor had control over the church and the state.

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Life in Constantinople Justinian rebuilt Constantinople. Constantinople was the largest city in Europe during the Middle Ages. Greatest center of commerce, chief center of trade between west and east Silk Spices Ivory Wheat

Justinian built an immense palace, hundreds of churches. Hippodrome: arena held races, fights extensive public works, including immense underground reservoirs for the city’s water supply. Hagia Sophia- was the greatest building built—Church of the Holy wisdom.

Church of Hagia Sophia [Holy Wisdom]

Interior of the Church of Hagia Sophia

New Heights & New Problems Byzantine’s Macedonian Dynasty helped expand Empire and fostered a burst of economic prosperity. Byzantine Empire troubled by split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in the West. The issue was regarding who should be the head of the church.

The head of Christian faith for the Orthodox Church was the patriarch The head of Christian faith for the Orthodox Church was the patriarch. For the Roman Catholic Church the head of the church was the pope. The Orthodox Church would not accept the pope as the head of the Christian faith. In 1054 Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael Cerularius excommunicated each other. This began schism, or separation, between the two great branches of Christianity.

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