1. Chapter 10
Byzantium

3. The Early Byzantine Empire
Great location
Constantinople=capital in 340 C.E. (kept name until controlled by Ottoman Turks in 1453 C.E. when it was renamed Istanbul)
Named Byzantium after Byzantion, fishing village
Eastern half of classical Roman Empire that remained intact

4. Sasanids were a threat
Tightly centralized rule under a highly exalted and absolute emperor
Caesaropapism=emperor not only over secular affairs but also religious affairs

5. Justinian ( ): “the sleepless emperor”, wife Theodora, built Hagia Sophia, codified Roman law, reconquered some of the western Roman empire for a time
Muslims were a threat by the 7th century and sieged Constantinople
Theme system=a province was under the jurisdiction of a general who was responsible for military defense and civil administration

8. Basil II (976-1025): “Basil the Bulgar-Slayer”
Byzantine claim to western European lands was challenged by Charlemagne, Otto of Saxony
Western Europe and Byzantium had bad relations, tension

9. Byzantine Economy & Society
Had abundant agricultural surpluses, supported large number of crafts workers, participated in trade
Large class of free peasants who owned small plots of land was good
Wealthy owning large estates was bad because of tax loopholes and lack of recruits for military

10. In spite of this problem, still wealthy
Crafts= glassware, linen and woolen textiles, gems, jewelry, gold and silver work, silk
Connected lands of the Black Sea with lands of the Mediterranean Sea, dominated trade
Collected customs duties
Banks and partnerships

11. Constantinople had no rival
“the City”
Imperial palace, palaces of aristocrats
Women often were not at parties
Apartments, tenements
Baths, taverns, restaurants, theatres, stadiums, chariot races

12. Classical Heritage Local inhabitants spoke Greek
Scholars didn’t learn to read Latin, read New Testament and Greek philosophy
Private tutors for the rich, others had state school system that taught Greek philosophy and literature

13. Basic literacy was widespread
School of higher learning in Constantinople
Focused on humanities
Saw themselves as direct heirs of classical Greece

14. Orthodox Christianity
Emperors participated in theological debates, more than just government leaders
325 C.E. Constantine calls Council of Nicaea
Church and state not separate
Patriarch of Constantinople

15. Iconoclasm=the breaking of icons, Emperor Leo III (717-741)
Extreme ascetism
St. Basil of Caesarea, patriarch of Constantinople, rules for monastic life, devotion, piety, provided for the needs of the laity

16. Constantinople and Rome were the centers of Christian authority
They did not see eye to eye on all issues including iconoclasm, shaving of beards, jurisdiction of the papacy of Rome, etc.
In 1054, the patriarch and the pope excommunicated each other
This schism created two churches, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic

17. The Influence of Byzantium in Eastern Europe
Byzantium began to decline by the 11th century
The Theme system created problems internally
The Crusades damaged Constantinople beyond repair
Saljuq Turks invaded from the East

18. 1071, defeat at the Battle of Manzikert allowed Saljuqs to take over Anatolia
Constantinople captured by Ottoman Turks in 1453

19. Slavic people (Bulgars, Serbs, Croats) moved into Byzantine empire
St. Cyril and St. Methodius: Cyrillic alphabet, conversions to Orthodox Christianity

20. Another Slavic group (Russians) organize states with trade centers like Kiev
989, Prince Vladimir of Kiev converted to Orthodox Christianity
Byzantine culture spread to Russians: architecture, Russian Orthodox Church, written law code
Moscow= world’s third Rome

21. Church of the Resurrection on the Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia
ONION DOMES