1. “Byzantium is the New Rome!”
THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
“Byzantium is the New Rome!”

2. Constantinople Previously known as Byzantium “The city of Constantine
had large markets, public squares, paved roads, a cathedral, palace, public baths and a hippodrome
Almost half a million people lived here in the early 500’s
Constantinople

3. Three Names
BYZANTIUM: the city was first called this by the Ancient Greeks
CONSTANTINOPLE: the city was renamed this because it was the “city of Constantine”
ISTANBUL: the city would be renamed this by the Muslim Turks who would take over Constantinople

4. Justinian One of the greatest Byzantine emperors
Began to rule in 527 AD
Was born to a poor family
Listened to all subjects- wealthy nobles or peasants
Appointed a team to collect and summarize Roman laws
Encouraged education and reforms to laws and government
Justinian

5. Justinian’s Code One of Justinian’s most lasting contributions
A system of laws
An organized collection and explanation of Roman laws for use by the Byzantine Empire
Became the basis(foundation) for the legal systems of most modern European countries

6. Schism
means split
Refers to the Great Schism of the Christian church in 1054
Led to different forms of Christianity
Roman Catholic church in the WEST(It., Fr., Sp., Gr)
Eastern(Greek) Orthodox church in the EAST (Greece, Turkey)

7. Byzantines People who lived in Constantinople Mostly Christian
Were in a “tug of war with the Muslim Arab Turks for the Middle East
Powerful civilization
Byzantines

8. Why did Constantinople become rich & powerful?
built at a major crossroads of trade
Located on the Bosphorus, which connects the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea
Byzantines charged taxes on ALL GOODS that went through the city.

9. What cultures influenced Byzantine Civilization?
Greek-kept and copied works of ancient Greeks
Roman –preserved principles of Roman law
Christian
The blended all 3 influences.
What cultures influenced Byzantine Civilization?

10. What qualities made Justinian a good and successful ruler?
Listened to everyone
Did not give up on a task until it was finished.

11. What was happening to the Byzantine Empire after the death of Justinian?
Later emperors fought wars against neighboring enemies
Arguments within the empire weakened it (political and religious)

12. What caused the Great Schism of the Christian church?
EAST
WEST
Rejected the authority of the Pope
Allowed the Emperor to approve of a PATRIARCH (highest Church official in Constantinople) instead of Pope
Spoke Greek in church
Did not use Icons/saints
Accepted the authority of the Pope
Did not follow the patriarch
Spoke Latin in church
Permitted the use of icons/saints

13. The Importance of Icons
Icons are paintings of holy people
Roman Catholic Christians (in the West) often prayed to saints or holy people, represented by icons
The Byzantine emperor banned the use of icons in the 700’s, claiming that they violated God’s commandments

14. Hagia Sophia Took 10,000 workers to build Was built in 5 years
Is used as a mosque (Muslim place of worship) today

15. Why did Constantinople finally fall?
Weakened by attacks from Muslim peoples(Seljuk Turks) from the east
Weakened by Christian Crusaders from the west
Finally fell to the Turks in 1453….then became the Ottoman Empire.

16. Qualities that made the Byzantine Empire Strong
1. Excellent army-protected city
2 . Excellent rulers- wise and popular; encouraged education
3. Improvements to law and government; Justinian’s Code