The Birth of the Byzantine Empire

DO NOW  How do most empires collapse? (Think of the ones we have read about so far – any similar themes?)

Timeline  You are historical investigators! Using the two worksheets provided and 6.5 (pg. 188) from the book, create a timeline of the fall of Rome. Your timeline should be neat and concise. Please include the following: What is happening in 180? Why is Rome weak? List the most important reasons Diocletian’s rule The splitting of the empire Constantine’s rule Final fall of the Western Empire, emergence of the Byzantine Empire

The Decline of Rome  Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”) 207 years from 27 BC to 180 AD Period of peace for Rome & minimal expansion  After 180, the Roman Empire is failing Confronted with several external and internal issues that ultimately weaken it

The Decline of Rome  Weak leaders leave Rome weak (civil wars break out over who should rule)  Economic problems Disruption of trade (pirates, weak borders) No new sources of wealth (Rome was not expanding) Taxes were raised Inflation (value of $ declines, dramatic rise in prices)  Weakened military, lack of loyalty, borders

Diocletian Saves the Day  Diocletian took power in 284 (until 305)  Changed empire into absolute monarch  Divided the empire into two Diocletian ruled the East Maximian ruled the West

Splitting the Empire Diocletian divides the empire in order to preserve it: West – Latin speaking, weakened by constant attacks from Germanic invaders East – Greek speaking, stronger and wealthier

Splitting the Empire  Diocletian ruled rigidly, created new tax plan, improved army/defense  Diocletian steps down and civil war breaks out… AGAIN Still no system for choosing an emperor!  Constantine gains control of West in 312 (AD) & the East in 324 (AD)

Constantinople  Constantine moves the capital to Byzantium in A.D. 330 and renames it Constantinople

Where is Byzantium??? In modern-day Turkey Today it’s Istanbul… not Constantinople

Advantages  Peninsula Natural safe harbor for ships  Merchant and military ships Natural defense  Water on three sides (Black Sea and Aegean Sea)

Advantages  Trade Easy access to the Mediterranean Sea Located at an important land route that linked Europe and Asia (Silk Roads)

Constantinople  Modeled the new capital after Rome Often referred to as “new Rome”  City was heavily fortified Water on three sides plus a wall built to protect the fourth side  Multi-ethnic city Greeks, Persians, Italians, Turks, Slavs, Armenians, and Jews lived in the city  Citizens spoke Greek, but Latin was the official language

Constantinople  During Constantine’s rule, more than 600,000 people lived in the city  Constantine convinced many wealthy Romans to move to the city by offering to build them palaces

The Fall of Rome  After Constantine’s death, the Western Roman Empire falls Invasion of Germanic tribes due to pressure from the Huns Attila the Hun attacks Rome Germanic tribes conquer provinces In A.D. 476, last emperor is sent into exile

The Byzantine Empire  The Eastern half of the empire survives – the Byzantine Empire Flourishes and preserves Greek and Roman culture for another 1000 years Empire lasts until 1453, when falls to the Ottoman Turks  JG Fall of Rome JG Fall of Rome

 Engineering an Empire: Constantine  Engineering An Empire: Byzantine Engineering An Empire: Byzantine

Emperor Justinian I  Ruled Byzantine Empire  Wanted to restore original Roman Empire  Used military to recapture territories in northern Africa

Justinian and Theodora  Justinian married Theodora Controversial choice because she was an “actress”  Theodora served as co-emperor  Fought for women’s rights

Nika Revolt - Background  Blues = higher class, Greens = lower class  Fought each other in Hippodrome (arena where events such as chariot races and animal fights were held)

Nika Revolt  In 532 the Blues and Greens joined together to rebel against the govt.  Rioted, burned down a lot of the city, threatened to overthrow Justinian  J ready to flee, T convinced him to stay & fight

Accomplishments during Justinian’s Rule  Justinian’s Code Reformed Roman law Organized laws & created clear system  Hagia Sofia Built as a Christian Church, now a museum Destroyed during Nika Revolt, rebuilt by J

Hagia Sofia  “Holy Wisdom”  After Nika Revolt, Justinian ordered the creation of the Hagia Sofia The Church previously in this spot was burned during revolt  Professors did the planning  Dedicated in 537 – 6 years to build  Elaborate design  Signified center of the Christian world

Hagia Sofia Worksheet  On back of the sheet, answer the following questions: 1. Describe the form of Hagia Sofia. 2. What was innovative about the dome? 3. Worshippers of the time had never been in such a large building. What elements of Hagia Sofia do you think made them feel welcome and comfortable? 4. Imagine that the mathematicians hired by Emperor Justinian had been unable to design a system of arches to hold up Hagia Sofia’s huge dome. How do you think the design of the church would have been affected?

 Engineering an Empire: Justinian  NkE8 NkE8

Byzantine Art

Church Vocab  Icon: painting or sculpture of Christ or another holy figure  Iconoclasts: people who were opposed to icons

Church  In 700s the use of art in churches divided society  Some Christians were opposed to icons  726 – Leo III forbids the use of holy images, orders their destruction  Division sets in (many church officials used images to teach about Christ)  780 – Leo III dies, strong movement to bring back icons  843 – icons accepted again

Other Issues Dividing the Church  Roman Church  Spoke Latin  Members of clergy not allowed to marry  Pope has supreme authority  Eastern Church  Spoke Greek  Members of clergy were allowed to marry  Emperor oversaw Church law but did not govern govern Church  Did not accept the Pope had supreme authority over religious issues

Split  Differences became so large that a final schism or split occurred between the churches  1054  East – Orthodox Church  West – remained Roman Catholic