1. Ch. 9 – Eastern Europe: Byzantium and Orthodox Europe

2. The Byzantine Empire
Constantine built Constantinople as his capital in the 4th century
Became the Byzantine Empire’s capital when the Roman Empire split
Empire’s political style defined by complex administration around a remote emperor
Emperor was surrounded by elaborate ceremonies
Greek became the empire’s official language

3. Constantinople – 2 ½ mins

4. Byzantine Empire – 2 mins

5. Justinian Justinian’s contributions included
Rebuilding the capital, including Hagia Sophia
Systemizing the Roman legal code
His general, Belisarius, helped the Empire expand in the 6th century

6. Rule of Justinian – 1 min

9. Empire also defeated challenges from Bulgaria to the west
Justinian’s successors were able to hold off Arab invaders from the east
Empire also defeated challenges from Bulgaria to the west
“Greek fire” was an instrumental weapon
Empire’s size and strength was greatly reduced overall

11. Greek Fire?

12. Byzantium Structure
Political system had remarkable similarities to the early patterns in China
Emperor was held ordained by God
Head of church and state
Women could (and did) serve as emperor
An elaborate bureaucracy organized the empire socially, politically, economically
Cultural life blended Hellenism and Orthodox Christianity

13. Split and Decline In 1054 the church split into two traditions:
Western (Roman Catholic)
Eastern (Orthodox)
Empire entered a long period of decline following the church schism
Turks overran Constantinople in 1453

14. Decline of Byzantium – 3 mins

15. Spread of Civilization in Eastern Europe
Christian missionaries like Cyril and Methodius helped bring Orthodoxy north
Russia and the Balkans
Created a new alphabet: Cyrillic
Roman Catholicism competed for converts in Eastern Europe
Jews migrated in great numbers
They valued education and literacy
Gained strength in local commerce

16. Kievan Rus’: Beginnings of Russia
Kievan Rus’ began along the trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople
Gained influence and power after Vladimir converted to Orthodox Christianity around 1000 CE
State soon developed its own Russian Orthodox Church
Yaroslav issued unifying code of laws

17. Russian Orthodox Church – 1 min

20. Russian Social and Political Structure
Russian culture borrowed much from Byzantium
Bureaucracy and education system were not as developed
Boyars (Russian nobility) were less powerful than their western counterparts

21. Decline of Kievan Rus’
Mongol invasions (Tartars, or Tatars) was a factor
Aided by rival princes
Also aided by the fall of the Byzantine Empire
The region was cut off from western contacts
Stifled economic, political, cultural sophistication

22. Review Approximately what years did the Byzantine Empire last from?
What was the most important “stepchild” of the Byzantine empire?
What was the great church built in Constantinople by Justinian?
What became the official language of the eastern empire of Byzantium?

23. Review (cont) When did the Byzantine Empire begin?
Who was Justinian’s general?
Who tried to restore the Roman Empire?
Who was a threat to Byzantium from the EAST?
Who was a threat to Byzantium from the WEST?

24. Review (cont) What was the name of the Byzantium special weapon?
Name some primary exports of Byzantium.
What is the type of Christianity that emerged in the Byzantine Empire?
What were some issues that caused the split between Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches?

25. Review (cont) What group of people conquered Kievan Russia?
What year did Constantinople and the Byzantium Empire fall to the Ottoman Turks?
Cultural life in the Byzantine Empire was most influenced by what tradition?
Was Kievan Russia influenced by western Europe? How did Russia develop?
Who controlled Kievan Russia after 1236?
How did the Mongol (Tatar) rule impact Russia?