Unit 2: The Post-Classical Age, Part I – End of the Old, Beginning of the New

A Shift in Power New nations rose after the fall of old empires Byzantine in Eastern Europe Sassinaid in Persia Jin in China

Theme System Each province (theme) was under the control of a general responsible for both military defense & civil administration. Generals recruited armies from free peasants land in exchange for military service Based on land and service both very Middle Age concepts almost like feudalism and yet maintained some concepts of paterfamilias

Superpower of the Dark Ages Protected location on Bosporus Straits Greek fire & heavy cavalry (the cataphracts) the use of subsidies to play its enemies against one another Caesaropapism - domination of imperial rule over Christianity in the Byzantine empire Emperors played an active and prominent role in ecclesiastical affairs. The role of the emperor evolved as secular begins to superceed sacred

Culture Constantinople controlled the economy and grew to an enormous size but other cities were relatively small Mostly because the major exports were of an industrial nature such as luxury products, silk, cloth and carpets Culture Mostly Greek Domed buildings adapted from the Roman style of architecture Richly colored mosaics Painted Icons

Justinian & Theodora recovered provinces that had been previously overrun by invaders. The Byzantine empire reached its greatest size under Justinian. launched a program to beautify Constantinople. church of Hagia Sophia improved on earlier Roman buildings. reformed the law. Justinian’s Code was a model for medieval monarchs, the Roman Catholic Church, and later legal thinkers. used the law to unite the empire under his control Justinian ruled as an autocrat, or sole ruler with complete authority. He also had power over the Church. (caesarpapism)

Emperor Justinian [r ]

Empress Theodora

Justinian’s Empire at its Peak

Christianity in East and West Byzantine Christianity – Orthodox Church Western European Christianity – Roman Catholic Church Byzantine emperor controlled Church affairs (caesarpapism) People rejected pope’s claim to authority over all Christians Clergy kept right to marry Greek was language of the Church Easter was main holy day Emperor outlawed the use of icons, or holy images Pope controlled Church affairs People accepted pope’s claim to authority over all Christians Clergy prohibited from marrying Latin was language of the Church Christmas was main holy day Use of holy images permitted – Differences between east and west provoked a schism, or permanent split, between the Eastern (Greek) Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church