Byzantine Empire

Location The eastern portion of the former Roman Empire Capital City – Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) Excellent location for trade

Military defense Fought with the following for control of the area Sassanids to the east (Persia) Germanic invaders to the north and west Defensive walls were built around Constantinople

Byzantine Government Centralized Imperial bureaucracy remained even during times of uncertainty

Justinian the Great (r. 527 – 565) Revitalization of Constantinople Hagia Sophia Justinian’s Code - (Body of Civil Law) Expanded the size of the empire Defeated the Sassanids in the east Took control of Northern Africa, southern Spain, Sicily and Italy in the west However due to expansion – Byzantine Empire was almost bankrupt by the time Justinian died in 565

After Justinian The empire contracted Bulgars (Turkic people) took control of the Balkans Germanic tribes took control of Italy Arabs took over Syria Egypt, and the rest of North Africa Byzantines were unable to expand again until the 800s

Heraclius (r. 610 – 641) Spoke Greek Focused toward the east Resisted attacks from Islamic forces Reduced power and influence of the Sassanids in SW Asia

Leo III (r. 717 – 770) “The Syrian” Reclaimed lands, lost by previous ruler, in the Near East AND gained additional lands in Asia Minor Instituted iconoclasm – opposed the worship of religious images and icons (possible Islamic influence)

Basil II (r. 976 – 1025) Resumed successful Byzantine Expansion Defeated the Bulgars at the Battle of Kleidion Conquered territory in eastern Asia Minor

Religion Theocracy – no separation of church and state Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) was practiced Emperor appointed the patriarch (head of the church) Monastaries and religious communities common – provided aid to people in times of natural disasters Most nuns and monks opposed Leo III’s policy of iconoclasm

Christian Missions Hope to convert nonbelievers (Bulgars and Moravians) to Christianity Cyril – successful missionary Created an alphabet adopted by Russians and other Slavic peoples

Conflict with Rome Conflict between western and eastern branches of the Christian church Points of conflict in the Christian Church Head of the church – Pope vs. Patriarch Iconoclastic policy of Leo III Great Schism 1054 – Roman Catholic Church in the West Eastern Orthodox Church in Southeastern Europe and Russia

Trade and Prosperity Strong economy for almost 1000 years! Location of Constantinople played a huge part Silk weaving industry Government intervention in economy Strong agricultural sector Serf/peasant labor (most not free) Theme system – offered freedom to peasants in exchange for military service Limits to amount of land one landlord could own

Free Peasant Revolts Contracted with landowners – paid rent for the land they worked Landowners tried to force ‘free’ peasants into peasant status to increase their power Revolts by free peasants resulted Basil the Copper Hand (928 – 932) Ivaylo (1277 – 1280)

Byzantine Culture The Arts Christian themes in art and literature Education Dominated by religion University of Constantinople (f. 850) Government training Copying classical writings from Ancient Greece and Rome City life Large lavish homes Churches Palaces Hippodrome - stadium

Decline and Fall of the Byzantine Empire Civil Unrest Expenses of conflict along eastern and western borders Reluctance of the wealthy to pay taxes Unrest by commoners

Decline and Fall (Cont.) Military defeats 1071 – Battle of Manzikert (Seljuk Turks d. Byzantine forces) – lost territory in Asia Minor 1071 – lost lands in southern Italy and Sicily to the Normans from France 1095 – Emperor Alexus I asked the Pope for help fighting the Turks – resulting in the Crusades 1453 – Ottoman Turks (who had replaced the Suljuk Turks) – conquered Constantinople – marking the end of the Byzantine Empire (Constantinople is renamed Istanbul)

Kievan Rus

Forming the Kievan Rus East Slavic people and Vikings (Rus – Viking ruler) Settled along the Dnieper River Early 900s under Oleg a settlement was formed and called Kievan Rus Collection of city-states that paid tribute to the Grand Prince of Kiev Boyars (nobles) rulers

Kievan Religion Converted to Christianity (Byzantine influence) Prince Vladimir I formally brought the KR to Christianity when he married the sister of the Byzantine emperor Religion linked KR to Byzantines culturally and politically

Golden Age of Kievan Rus 10 th and 11 th centuries Strong government and cohesive society Rule of Vladimir I Expansion to the west Promotion of education under Yaroslav I Codified laws – Russian Justice

Decline of Kiev Dependence on Byzantine Empire 1169 and 1204 Byzatines attacked Kiev 1240 Kiev was invaded and occupied by the Mongols

Novgorod Large city-state in northern Kiev Wide mix of occupants – German merchants, Finns, Swedes, and Slavs Prospered through trade Model of the growth of cities between 800 and 1300 Absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 15 th Century