1. Byzantine Empire
SSHW 4

2. Background Information
Rome had fallen on hard times, and through internal problems, and invading armies, the Empire slowly fell apart and was divided into two empires, the Eastern or Byzantine, and the Western. The capital of the Eastern Empire was Constantinople (in modern day Turkey)

3. Where did the Byzantine Empire come from?
Roman Empire became very unstable
Emperors Diocletian and Constantine tried to postpone the end with reforms, dividing empire into East (based in Constantinople) and West (based in Rome)
End of Western Rome – 476 AD
Fell to invaders – Visigoths, Vandals, and finally Ostrogoths led by Odacer.
Eastern Roman Empire continued for another 1000 years, called the Byzantine Empire.

5. Cultural Identity
Shared a common culture with the Roman Empire (it was the Roman Empire)
Social: still rich/poor - Patricians/plebeians
Political: still empire with emperor
Religious: still Christian
Intellectual: still doing same types of art & architecture
Technological: still building aqueducts, concrete buildings with vaults, domes
Economic: still heavily trading, some farming; single monetary system; empire’s money still from taxation.
It becomes distinctive from ancient Rome after the fall of the Western Empire - Rome continues in the East and develops new cultural characteristics.

6. Justinian
In 527, Justinian became the emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire
He set out to re-conquer areas of the Western Empire which had been overrun by invaders
He temporarily recaptured a vast majority of the old empire

7. Becoming the Byzantine Empire
Rome had been losing ground after the death of Constantine 337 AD
Justinian wanted to & did recapture old Roman Empire by 552 AD
After Justinian’s death in 565, the empire lost territory again
By 900 the empire settled into Eastern Balkan Peninsula (Greece) & Asia Minor (Turkey)

8. Byzantine Empire

9. Justinian’s Lasting Contribution
Created a new law code for Eastern Roman Empire: The Body of Civil Law
Much simpler than earlier Law of Nations
Was the basis for imperial law in Eastern Roman Empire until 1453
Became used in the West, too
Basis for much of the European legal system

10. Justinian Law Code Law code created by Justinian with 4 parts
The Code – 5,000 laws Roman laws still useful
The Digest – summary of great political thinkers
The Institutes – textbook for law students
The Novellae – new laws
Roman laws written down & preserved
*Justinian’s Law Code served the basis for most of the legal systems in Europe.*

11. Justinian’s Other Accomplishments
Hippodrome – free entertainment arena for chariot races & circus acts
Could hold up to 60, ,000
532—Nika Rebellion
Protesting taxes
City is burned
Rebuilds (with high taxes)
Hagia Sophia – beautiful cathedral rebuilt by Justinian with great mosaics, lights, etc.

12. Empress Theodora Wife to Justinian
Held a strong influence over her husband
Helped convince him to stay and put down a rebellion
Established more rights for women
Most influential woman of the empire
The status of women in the Byzantine Empire was elevated high above that of the women in the Middle East and Europe.

14. Together, transformed the city of Constantinople
Set about rebuilding Constantinople including: schools, courts, hospitals, aqueducts, bridges, and more than 25 churches, especially and the Hagia Sophia (A Christian orthodox church)
Become known as one of the most wonderful cities in the world.

21. Religion in the Byzantine Empire
Remember, the Byzantine Empire was part of the Roman Empire in the 300s AD when Theodosius the Great made Christianity the official religion of the Empire.
Christianity remained the official religion of the Byzantine Empire once it was separate from the old Roman Empire.

22. Development of the Byzantine Church
After the fall of Western Roman Empire, Roman Christianity continued based in Rome, with the bishop there becoming known as the head of the church, called the pope (papa - Latin for father).
Church policy in the East was always heavily influenced by the emperor/empress
Emperor was crowned in religious ceremonies and viewed to be chosen by God as ruler.
In the East, a bishop, called the patriarch, was appointed at Constantinople by the emperor.

24. Constantinople Religious Center
As the division between East (Byzantine) and West (Roman) continued in the church, Constantinople began to rise in importance in religious life.
Regions of Byzantine Empire (Greece, Turkey, Russia) looked to the patriarch at Constantinople for religious guidance.

25. Growing Disunion
In addition to Rome & Constantinople, there were 3 other patriarchates: Jerusalem, Alexandria and Antioch.
All 5 of the patriarchates had regional identities that were different than the others, so rituals and worship practices began to differ among them.
To try to keep a sense of unity, the ecumenical council was begun
Addressed doctrinal issues
Islamic World took over Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria so all that was left was Rome and Constantinople.

27. The Great Schism of 1054

28. How did we get here?
Christianity began as one church around 33 AD with the followers/apostles of Christ.

29. The Normans are a Nuisance
Around 1020, the Normans (or Vikings) invaded the Southern half of Italy.
Pope Leo IX of Rome tried to defeat the Normans but lost badly.
The Normans captured the Pope and began closing down churches in the Southern half of Italy, which was controlled by the Byzantine Empire.

30. Tension Rising
During the beginning of the 11th century, there were already tensions between the east and west.
After Diocletian divided the east and western Roman empire, they had grown apart because of distance.
When Christianity began, arguments began over which diocese should be considered the most powerful.

31. Starting a Fight
The Norman invasion caused problems between the east and west.
The Byzantine churches spoke Greek and had different customs than the Roman church.
The Normans made the churches they conquered use Latin rituals.
To get even, the Emperor in the east made the Latin churches over there use Eastern customs.

32. So What was the Big Deal?
There was already tension between the Byzantine and old Roman Empire.
The Eastern priests could marry before they became priests. Rome didn’t agree.
The Roman church used unleavened bread in their mass. The east thought this was too “Jewish”. They used levied bread instead.
The Eastern church had Greek mass. The Roman Church used Latin.

33. More Issues than Time Magazine 
The priests of the two churches dressed different.
The Western church worshipped icons that represented religious figures. The Eastern Church saw this as idol worship.

35. The Two Major Issues
The Eastern churches did not like how the Pope of Rome claimed himself to be the head of the Christian church.
If anyone, the Eastern church believed the patriarch (bishop) of Constantinople should be the head.
In 1054, the final straw came when the Western Church added the filioque to their creed which included the “Holy Spirit” in the Christian Trinity.

36. Childish Solution
In 1054, Pope Leo IX of Rome and the Patriarch/Bishop of Constantinople (Michael Cerularius) decided to excommunicate each other.
Excommunication is the worst punishment a member of the Christian Church can receive.
They are not allowed to receive sacraments and have no hope of entering heaven, according to Christian beliefs.

37. Creation of a New Church
The result of the 1054 Schism is the division between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church.
The word Orthodox means dedication to the traditional faith.
The Eastern church believed that they followed traditional Christian beliefs and unlike the Roman church with they viewed as greedy and too close to Judaism.

38. Main beliefs of Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Christians are not considered Apostolic (key word “apostle) because they don’t follow the divinity of St. Peter.
They do not recognize the supremacy of the Pope.
The two churches have never gotten back together but did reconcile their differences in the 1900s.

40. Vikings
Eastern Slavs

41. Viking Influences on Russia
Small bands of adventurers from the north, called Varangians, or Rus, mixed with the Slavic peoples living in modern-day Russia
These peoples were most likely Vikings
They built forts along the Dnieper, Don, and Volga Rivers & settled among the Slavs

42. Viking Influences on Russia
862
Legend says Slavs invited Viking chief Rurik to be their king – he settled in Novgorod, Russia’s first important city

43. Viking Influences on Russia
880
Oleg, a nobleman from Novgorod, moved south to Kiev (the first major Russian city), a city on the Dnieper
From Kiev, the Vikings could sail by river and sea to Constantinople and trade for products
Kiev became the center of Russian Byzantine Christianity
Viking nobles intermarried with their Slavic subjects and eventually, the line between Slavs & Vikings vanished

44. Kiev becomes linked to Constantinople
957
Princess Olga, a member of the Kievan nobility, visited Constantinople
She publicly converted to Christianity
Governed until her son was old enough to rule
He resisted Christianity

45. Kiev becomes linked to Constantinople
980
Vladimir, Princess Olga’s grandson, came to the throne
He sent teams to observe the major religions of the time
Teams that observed Islam, Judaism, & Western Christianity told mediocre stories
Team from Constantinople told this story:
“The Greeks led us to the [buildings] where they worship their God, and we knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth. For on earth there is no such splendor or such beauty, and we are at a loss how to describe it. We only know that God dwells there among men, and…we cannot forget that beauty.” – from The Primary Chronicle

46. Kiev becomes linked to Constantinople
Report convinced Vladimir to convert to Byzantine Christianity
Made all of his subjects convert also
989: He held a baptism of all citizens in the Dnieper River
Kiev, already linked to Constantinople by trade, now looked to it for religious guidance as well

47. Kievan Russia Yaroslav the Wise Vladimir’s son, came to power in 1019
Helped Kiev rise to power by:
Married off his daughters and sisters to kings and princes of western Europe to create trade connections
Created a legal code
Built libraries & churches

48. Kiev’s Decline Yaroslav divided his realm among his sons
Result: Sons tore the state of Kiev apart fighting amongst each other for territory
The Crusades disrupted trade
Mongols attacked and demolished Kiev in 1240 – took over
Tolerated all religions and allowed Russians to follow their usual customs, but demanded obedience & a large amount of tribute from the principalities

49. Mongol Influence in Russia
Isolated Russia more from Western Europe
Caused Russia to develop differently from the rest of Europe because they were cut off from their ideas and inventions
Encouraged the rise of Moscow as a center of power
The church moved it’s headquarters to Moscow, making it the center of Russian trade and religion
Encouraged the guidance and control of the Byzantine Church

50. The Russian Empire
After the Mongols occupied Russia for about 200 years, the Russians finally broke free
Ivan III
Openly challenged Mongol rule
Took the title of “czar” – Russian version of Caesar – and claimed his intent to make Russia the “Third Rome”

51. Ivan III Ivan III, ruled from 1462-1505 also known as Ivan the Great
Sometimes referred to as the "gatherer of the Russian lands", he quadrupled the territory of his state,
limited the power of the nobles and became the absolute monarch of the area.
Claimed Moscow to be a 3rd Rome
built the Kremlin

52. Kremlin
St. Basil’s Cathedral

53. The Russian Empire 1480 Ivan refused to pay tribute to the Mongols
Armies faced each other at the Ugra River about 150 miles SW of Moscow
Neither side advanced to fight
Probably due to fear of the other side
After a time, both armies turned around and marched home
This bloodless standoff traditionally marks the Russian’s liberation from Mongol rule

54. End of the Byzantine Empire
Around 1300 the Ottomans began to build a empire on the edge of the Byzantine Empire (were one of the first groups to use muskets and cannons)
The Ottomans expanded into the Byzantine Empire: they treated their conquered subjects with respect allowing trade and religious freedom

55. Crisis for Constantinople
Constantinople attacked (by other Christians) during 4th Crusade (1202–1204)
Burned/Plundered city
Never recovers
By the 1400s the Empire had grown strong and decided to attack the last strong hold of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople
In 1453 the Ottomans used cannons to subdue and capture the city: they rebuilt it and changed the name to Istanbul

56. Ivan III
After the fall of Constantinople , orthodox church fathers were inclined to regard the Russian grand dukes as the successors by the Byzantine Emperors.
Ivan liked the idea and so he tried to encourage it
used many of the Byzantine governmental rituals
eventually took the title Czar.
married Sophia Paleoloque in 1496
Niece of Constantine XI, the last Byzantine emperor.
Encouraged imperial ideas in the mind of her husband.
Brought the ceremonious etiquette of Constantinople to Moscow.
Created a new Russian law code was based on Justinian’s code.

57. After Ivan III
After the rule of Ivan III (the Great), his insane grandson Ivan IV (the Terrible), took over when Russia was in an upheaval.  He continued Ivan III’s work of bringing the nobles under his control and increasing Russian lands, however, he did it through brutal means.
After Ivan’s death and several years of uprisings and invasions a new Czar would be appointed – Michael Romanov – who’s family would rule Russia until 1917

58. The influence of the Byzantine Empire on Russia and Eastern Europe
Influences
Church architecture and religious art
Adoption of Greek alphabet to the Slavic languages by St. Cyril
Trade routes between the Black Sea and Baltic Sea
Adoption of Orthodox Christianity

59. The Rise of the Mongols
Problems Between Steppe Nomads & Settled Communities
Because of scarcities and hardships of their lifestyle, steppe nomads raided towns and villages to acquire pasture land for their herds and resources for survival

60. Genghis Khan ( )
Genghis unites the nomadic Mongol clans into one force
Invaded northern China and western parts of Asia
Used violence, often destroying entire towns, to spread fear among his enemies
1206 – accepted title Genghis Khan, or “universal ruler”

61. The Rise of the Mongols Characteristics of Genghis Khan’s Success:
Brilliant organizer
Gifted Strategist
Used cruelty as a weapon

62. The Rise of the Mongols Genghis Khan – Brilliant Organizer
Following Chinese model, he grouped his warriors in armies of 10,000, grouped into 1,000-man brigades, 100-man companies, and 10-man squads

63. The Rise of the Mongols Genghis Khan – Gifted Strategist
Used various tricks to confuse the enemy
Sometimes, a small Mongol cavalry unit would attack, then pretend to gallop away in flight. The enemy usually gave chase. Then the rest of the Mongol army would appear suddenly and slaughter the surprised enemy forces
Gifted horseback riders (Cavalry) – could ride backward and fire their bow and arrow – provided a huge advantage for the Mongols over their enemies

64. The Rise of the Mongols Genghis Khan – Cruelty
Terrified enemies into surrender
If a city refused to open their gates to him, he might kill the entire population when he finally captured it
This led many towns to surrender without a fight

65. Don’t Write
“The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears, and to carry off his wives and daughters.”  
Temujin
(a.k.a. Chinggis Khan)
(a.k.a. Genghis Khan)

66. According to many perspectives in different times, the Mongols:
were destroyers of civilizations
were ruthless uncivilized barbarians
were evil forces against Christians, Buddhists, Confucians, or Muslims

67. In other places, they (especially Genghis Khan) are revered.

68. The Mongol Empire
After Genghis’s death his empire was divide among his sons and grandsons, who expanded Mongol territory
The Mongols tended to allow the people they conquered to keep their cultural and religious beliefs
The Mongols opened up trade throughout Asia and eastern Europe

69. The Khanates Khanate is a political entity ruled by a Khan
Mongols ruled ruthlessly at first, destroying the land and irrigation systems and wiping out populations
Later they adopted aspects of the cultures they ruled and imposed stability, law, and order across much of Eurasia
Cultural differences between the khanates eventually led to it splitting up

70. The Khanates

71. The Pax Mongolica – Mongol Peace
A period of peace from the mid-1200s to the mid-1300s, whereby the Mongols established stability and law throughout much of Eurasia
This peace made travel and trade safer and promoted the exchange of goods and ideas across Asia and Europe
Some historians speculate that the epidemic known as the Bubonic Plague that devastated Europe in the 1300s was first spread along these trade routes. More to come on this later
End of Pax Mongolica led to disorder

72. The Mongol Empire Kublai Khan Grandson of Genghis Khan
Known as The Great Khan
Kublai Khan invaded China and became the new emperor
He united China and opened it up to foreign trade
Mongols and Chinese tended not to intermingle except for the purpose of government and trade
Gained control of China in 1279 and united them for the first time in 300 years
Called his dynasty the Yuan Dynasty

73. The Mongol Empire Kublai Khan’s Rule
Built palaces in Shangdu & modern-day Beijing
Moved his capital from Mongolia to China
Kept Mongol identity, but tolerated Chinese culture and kept Chinese officials in local gov’t
Gave most high gov’t positions to foreigners because the Mongols believed that foreigners were more trustworthy since they did not have local loyalties
Example: Marco Polo

74. The Mongol Empire Marco Polo Venetian trader
Traveled to China & visited Kublai Khan’s court
Served Kublai Khan for 17 years
When he returned to Italy, he was imprisoned during a war with a rival city
Fellow prisoner recorded stories into a book – they were an instant success all over Europe, but most people did not believe a single word of it (the whole European superiority mentality)

75. The Mongol Empire Reason for the Fall of Yuan Dynasty:
Civil discontent because of famine, floods, and disease
Economic problems and official corruption
Power struggles among Yuan family members
Rebellions of Chinese

76. The Mongol Empire Legacy of Yuan Dynasty for China: It united China
Expanded foreign contacts
Made few changes to Chinese culture and system of government

77. The Mongol Empire Expanded Trade Made caravan routes across Asia safe
Established mail routes to link China with India and Persia
Greatly improved trade
Invited foreign merchants to visit China

78. The Mongol Empire at its height