E. Napp The Byzantine Empire In this lesson, students will be able to identify significant characteristics of the Byzantine Empire. Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms: Eastern Roman Empire Orthodox Christianity Byzantine Influence on Russia

E. Napp The Byzantine Empire was formerly the Eastern Roman Empire.

E. Napp The Eastern Roman Empire The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D. However, the eastern portion of the empire survived. It began the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire survived for one thousand years after the fall of Rome.

E. Napp The Byzantine Empire survived for one thousand years after the fall of Rome.

E. Napp A Natural Location for Trade The Byzantine Empire was located between Europe and Asia. It was a natural location for trade. The Byzantine Empire became wealthy from trade.

E. Napp The Byzantine Empire became wealthy from trade.

E. Napp Orthodox Christianity The Byzantines developed their own form of Christianity, Orthodox Christianity. Greek is the official language of the Orthodox Christian Church. Orthodox Christians do not recognize the Pope in Rome as their leader.

E. Napp In 1054 A.D., the Orthodox Christian Church officially split from the Roman Catholic Church in the Great Schism.

E. Napp The Hagia Sophia was a Byzantine Church and an architectural marvel.

E. Napp Byzantine Influence on Russia The Byzantine Empire greatly influenced Russia. Byzantine missionaries established Orthodox Christian churches in Russia. Byzantine missionaries even created an alphabet, the Cyrillic alphabet, to write the Bible in Russian.

E. Napp Do you see the Byzantine influence in this Russian Orthodox Church?

E. Napp Justinian Byzantine Emperors held absolute power. The Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, collected all Roman written laws. The Code of Justinian is a collection of Roman written law.

E. Napp Justinian was a Byzantine Emperor. He ordered the collection of Roman law.

E. Napp Questions for Reflection: What became of the Eastern Roman Empire with the fall of Rome in 476 A.D.? Why was the Byzantine Empire able to prosper from trade? How did the Orthodox Christian Church differ from the Roman Catholic Church? Who was Justinian and what did he do? What was the Hagia Sophia?