1. The Byzantine Empire
The New Rome

2. Origins of the Empire
Diocletian divided the Roman Empire into two halves in 284.
Roman Emperor Constantine Moved the capital of Rome to Byzantium in 330.
He re-named it Constantinople
The Western Roman Empire Falls in 476 AD.

3. The Roman Empire Divided in 284

4. Constantine’s City--Constantinopolis

5. Geography of Constantinople
City was built on a peninsula near a narrow water way, Straits of Bosporus .
Well protected by walls.
Emperor could still respond to the danger of the Germanic tribes.

6. Constantinople is well protected. Why?
Surrounded by water on three sides.
Surrounded by defensive walls

7. Constantinople (cont)
Straits of Bosporus Commanded sea trade routes between Asia and Europe.

8. Constantinople is well protected. Why?

9. Byzantine Empire at the Fall Rome

10. Justinian Most important Byzantine Emperor.
Tried to restore Roman control over Mediterranean.
Wanted to create a “New Rome”.

11. Government Emperor was an Autocrat Ceasaropapism
He held absolute Political and Religious power.
Ceasaropapism
All the powers of Ceasar and the Pope.
Grew wealthy through trade.

12. Religion Christianity was the official Religion.
Eastern Orthodox Christianity breaks away from the Catholic Church in Rome in 1054.

13. Emperor Justinian [r. 527-564]

14. What happened to the empire during Justinian’s Reign?

15. Justinian’s Code Corpus Juris Civilis “Body of Civil Law”
Revised the laws of Ancient Rome into a single legal code.
Regulated all aspects of life – marriage, business, property.
European Monarchs later used the code as a model for their laws.

16. Justinian’s Empire at its Peak

18. Byzantine Legacy ( )
After fall of Rome, the Eastern half of the Roman Empire survives as the Byzantine Empire.
Capital is Constantinople.
It survived for over 1000 years.
It preserved many Roman tradition, but few spoke Latin. Most Byzantines spoke Greek.

19. Agree or Disagree: The fall of Rome in 476 marked the end of Roman civilization. Address both sides of the argument.

20. Why do you think the Byzantine empire was able to survive for 1000 years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476?