1. Lecture #7 Byzantine Empire
Unit 1: Early Civilization and World in Transition

2. Objectives:
S2C2PO1: Contrast the fall of Rome with the development of the Byzantine and Arab Empires.

3. I. Background A. West = weak B. East = wealthy and center of power
C. Constantinople = capital
D. Byzantine Empire developed out of Eastern Roman Empire.

4. II. Geography Peninsula Protected by sea and a wall Three massive wall
Great Avenues ran toward the center of the city.

5. III. Byzantine Empire Language and traditions were Greek,
Legal system was Roman.
Absolute monarchs/emperors
-Made laws
-commanded the army and navy
-supervised trade and industry.
-appointed head of church in Constantinople

7. IV. Reign of Justinian & Theodora
A. Ruled 527 – 565
B. Justinian Code
1. made laws more consistent
2. Most European countries can trace their legal system to this code

9. The Justinian Code 3. Part 1 – the Code 4. Part 2 – the Digest
Useful Roman Laws
4. Part 2 – the Digest
Summarized legal opinions
5. Part 3 – the Institutes
Guide for law students
6. Part 4 – the Novellae
Laws passed after 534 AD

10. C. Theodora Wife of Justinian Affected the status of women
-Christian women could own land equal to their dowry.
Dowry – money or goods a wife brought to a husband at marriage.

12. Review Questions
Why does Constantine move the capital of the empire to the eastern part of the empire?
Describe the geography of the new capital city.
What was Justinian’s greatest achievement?

13. V. Economy Trade (China and Western Europe) Tax
Farming (grapes, olives, and wheat)

14. VI. Empire Besieged
A. Justinian conquests regained much of Roman territory
B. 600’s-
1. European and Asian invaders
2. Lost territory
3.Greatest threat = Arab invaders

16. VII. Split between East and West
A. Religious
1. Rome = Roman Catholic Church
2. Constantinople = Eastern Orthodox Church
B. Economic
1. West = trade, town life and learning was declining
2. East = center of wealth and culture.

17. VIII. Decline of the Empire
A Seljuk Turks destroyed their army.
B. Constantinople devastated
C. Crushing taxes
D. Falling agricultural production
E. Declining trade
F. Loss of territory

18. F. Loss of territory
/1300- Byzantines lost much of Asia Minor to Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople (Deathblow!!!)
***Officially ending the thousand-year reign of Byzantine Empire.

19. A painting by Italian artist dramatizes the Ottoman Turks conquest of Constantinople in 1453

20. Review Questions What did Justinian’s Code do for the empire?
What separated the Byzantine Empire from Western Europe?
Who brought the Byzantine Empire to an end?