The Byzantine Empire 500 CE - 1453 CE

SPLITS INTO & Western Rome EASTERN ROME 2

Western Rome EASTERN ROME Byzantine Empire Middle Ages 3

CONSTANTINOPLE ROME

1. Constantinople Emperor Constantine the Great renamed Byzantium (a Greek city) Constantinople (the capital).

B. Its Strategic location on the Bosporus strait made it a center of trade - Greek, Roman, and Christian culture spread.

Bosporus Strait Black Sea Mediterranean Sea

The city was protected by a deep moat, and three walls that were 25 feet thick in addition to a 14-mile stone wall was built along the city’s coastline to keep out invaders.

2. Emperor Justinian a. reigned from 527- 565 CE Autocracy- total rule by one leader Autocrat- a leader with ABSOLUTE POWER (over gov’t and church)

b. There was a Golden Age during his reign. c. He wanted to revive the grandeur of Rome

d. The Justinian Code Collection of laws It preserved Roman laws that became the basis for medieval and modern legal systems too.

Justinian’s Code of Laws DON’T WRITE! Justinian’s Code of Laws Laws were fairer to women. They 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 and, indeed, the very spelling of "justice". 13

Byzantine Under Justinian DON’T WRITE! Byzantine Under Justinian Justinian hired Belisarius, a talented general, to reconquer the Roman territories lost by Germanic invasions 14

-The strong wife of Justinian e. THEODORA -The strong wife of Justinian

DON’T WRITE THIS! “If flight were the only means of safety, still I would not flee. Those who have worn the crown should never survive its loss…Emperor, if you wish to flee, well and good, you have the money, the ships are ready, the sea is clear. But I shall stay. I accept the ancient saying: Royal purple is the best burial sheet.” What did Theodora mean by this quote?

- She saved the empire during the Nika Revolt Justinian was going to flee, but Theodora refused Justinian stayed and crushed rioters 30,000 dead in Hippodrome DON’T WRITE THIS!

The Byzantine Empire Under Justinian 3. Economy The Byzantine Empire Under Justinian

Byzantines produced: gold, silk, grain, olives and wine. A. Byzantines prospered and were the “New Rome.” B. Traded with China and India on the Silk Road. Byzantines produced: gold, silk, grain, olives and wine. DON’T WRITE!

The Silk Road

Constantinople: Europe’s busiest marketplace! Silk from China Wheat and papyrus from Egypt Spices and gems from India Slaves from Western Europe Furs from Northern Europe Tin from England Wine from France Cork from Spain Ivory and gold from Africa DON’T WRITE!

4. Art & Architecture A. The HAGIA SOPHIA (“holy wisdom”) is a church.

HAGIA SOPHIA (“holy wisdom”)

Church of Hagia Sophia (“Holy Wisdom”)

INSIDE THE HAGIA SOPHIA

B. Mosaics- pictures or designs formed by stones, tile or glass (often showed biblical scenes)

C. Icons- are holy images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and saints

Mosaics can be icons and vice versa http://mosaicartsource.blogspot.com/2006_09_15_archive.html

D. The Hippodrome could hold 60,000 spectators to watch horse races!

Where the Hippodrome used to be Where the Hippodrome used to be. The pillars are still where the pillars used to be in the middle of the race track.

5. Religion A. A Schism (permanent split) took place in 1054 between the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE KINDS OF CHRISTIANITY? Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox Where? Leader Clergy members Language Most important day Western Europe Eastern Europe Byzantine Empire Pope Patriarch Vow of chastity Allowed to marry Latin Greek Christmas Easter

DON’T WRITE! THINK! How does this picture represent that there became two branches of Christianity after the Roman Empire fell?

6. DECLINE A. There were political struggles and constant attacks by invaders B. In 1453, Constantinople fell to the Muslim Ottoman Turks; it was renamed Istanbul The Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom was turned into Muslim Mosque)

DON’T WRITE! In 1453, Ottoman Turks surrounded Constantinople; it took them two months to conquer the city.

7. LEGACY Byzantines blended Hellenistic culture with Roman law and engineering Classical Greek and Roman ideas were preserved

C. Eastern Orthodoxy-Greek & Russian D. Influenced Eastern Europe (Russian)

E. THE CYRILLIC ALPHABET DON’T WRITE! Created by monks of the Byzantine Empire Spread with Eastern Orthodox religion throughout Greece, Russia, Eastern Europe

F. Russian leaders were known as czars (like caesar) The Byzantine tradition of autocratic rule continued in Russia. . DON’T WRITE!

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