Byzantine Notes

Location of Constantinople Constantinople was protected by the eastern frontier Constantinople was far away from the Germanic invasions in the western empire Constantinople was where many traders came – “crossroads of trade” Constantinople was on a peninsula so it could be defended and it had good harbors for boats

Role of Constantinople Seat of the Byzantine Empire until Ottoman conquest Saved classical Greco-Roman culture Center of Trade

Justinian Codified (wrote them down) Roman law; European countries used these laws Reconquest of former Roman territories Expanded trade

Art and Architecture Got ideas from Christianity and powerful empire Icons– religious images Mosaics in public an religious buildings Hagia Sophia— domed church

Byzantine Culture Greco-Roman traditions continue Greek Language – not Latin like the West Greek Orthodox Christianity -- not Catholic like West Greek and Roman knowledge was saved by Byzantine libraries

Influence of Byzantine Culture on Eastern Europe and Russia Trade routes between Black Sea and Baltic Sea Eastern Europe and Russia adopt Orthodox Christianity – no Catholicism Russia adopts the Cyrillic alphabet – St. Cyril’s Bible Church architecture and art