Chapter 14 – Civilization in Eastern Europe: Byzantium and Orthodox Europe

The Byzantine Empire – 500-1450 ce – Maintained a high level of political, economic, and cultural activity – Official language was Greek – Constantinople was the capital – Orthodox Christianity dominant - key hub for international trade from west to east Emperor Justinian – tried to reconquer the western Rome – creates a new legal code – built the Hagia Sophia, church General Belisarius was able to regain some of western Rome, Italy -

Byzantium faced external threats from Persians, Arab Muslim, Germanic and Slavic peoples Greek Fire – napalm Emperors resemble Chinese rulers – court rituals – head of church and state – centralized authority and sophisticated bureaucracies - Open to all classes

The Schism 1054 the Christian Church split into the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eatern Orthodox Church in the East Attacks on different practices on each side caused the split Mutual excommunication The Pope was the head of the church in the west and the Patriarch was the head of the church in the East.

Appeal to West brings crusaders - 1204, Venetian crusaders sack Constantinople Western Crusaders saw opportunity in going to the East – fame and fortune – chance to claim territory and create a kingdom of their own. Empire’s Decline and collapse – in 1453 the Byzantine Empire fell to the Ottoman Turks 1461, empire gone

Emergence of Kievan Russia Rurik created the first Rus Empire in Kiev, a trading city Early Russia looked to the Byzantine Empire and the west for everything - trade and culture Convert to Russian Orthodox Christianity As the Byzantine Empire began to decline Russia went into isolation and the Mongol, Tatars took control