Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byArline Goodman Modified over 6 years ago
1
The Byzantine Empire Istanbul was Constantinople Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople Been a long time gone, Constantinople Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night Every gal in Constantinople Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople So if you've a date in Constantinople She'll be waiting in Istanbul Even old New York was once New Amsterdam Why they changed it I can't say People just liked it better that way
2
Legacy of Byzantine Empire
The “New Rome” Enduring symbol of Roman civilization Preservation of Greek Culture Fostering Christianity Introduces “caesaropapism” Marries Church State
4
Origins of the Byzantine Empire
Constantine builds capital at Byzantium Geographic: location is easy to defend Constantine is first Christian Emperor
5
Justinian (527-65) Justinian’s Code (528-33)
Enlarged Empire into Italy and Spain with aid of able Generals like Belisarius Rebuilds Constantinople Hippodrome Greens and Blues Revolt (rebuilt) Hagia Sophia Imperial Palace (peacock and pinecone fountain) Museums, libraries, art treasures, marble, baths Mese (“Middle Way”) Theodora, his wife (I’d rather die in purple than live in white.)
7
The Government Remember Caesaropapism from Constantine? Theme system
Provinces under control of generals who are given a land grant Peasants receive land in exchange for military service System allowed for quick mobilization System stabilized the countryside and allowed for expansion Limited the accumulation of land by the wealthy Strengthened the peasants Centralized authority and elaborate bureaucracy Elaborate court
8
Theme system
9
Dealing with the Muslims
Byzantines lost much of their southern territory (Egypt and Syria) Defeated the Arab navy with “Greek fire” (advanced technology)
10
Economics Productive agricultural economy (Depended on grain from Egypt) Low food prices High quality luxury goods Government control Restrictions on individual craft workers Prevented monopolies Constantinople as an entrepôt Bezants (from Byzantium) – gold coins Banks and partnerships
11
Social Women secluded Private tutors for boys and girls
State school system for bureaucracy Most peasants literate but not formally educated
12
Christianity: Eastern Orthodox Church
Monasticism and asceticism (St. Basil) Missionary work—Cyril and Methodius Influenced by Greek classics and language Imperial support Iconoclasm Schism
13
SCHISM 1054: Two Christian Traditions
Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic Service in Latin Bible in Latin Papal authority over Bishops Pope claims authority over all kings and emperors Priests may not marry Divorce not permitted Communion bread must be unleven (transubstantiation) Service in Greek or vernacular Bible in vernacular Patriarch and Bishops head church as a group Emperor claims authority over Patriarch and Bishops Priests may marry Divorce allowed under certain conditions Communion bread should be yummy!
14
Division reflected the difference patterns of development of the two civilizations
VS.
15
Problems Plague of 542 killed 10,000 a day Enemies:
Lombards, Persians, Avars, Arabs and Turks Large estates did not contribute tax revenue and became more independent of the government Free-peasant class grew smaller, fewer army recruits Ottoman Turks end Byzantine rule in 1453
17
Russians Geography (on trade routes, but more secluded than most regions) Slavs + Vikings = Russians Kiev (first capital) and trade. They decline after Mongols arrive in 1054 (Golden Horde). Russia will look to the east and fall behind the west and Muslim world.
18
Influence of Byzantines and Christianity—Cyrillic alphabet stimulates conversion to Orthodox Christianity (Vladimir converts) Vladimir
19
Yaroslav: Written laws, allied marriages
Mongols: toleration, tribute, isolation (creates eastward focus)
20
Independence: Ivan the Great—czar and boyars
Grand prince of Moscow Refused to acknowledge Mongols Drew inspiration from Byzantines First czar (Caesar) Beautified Moscow “third Rome” Resisted by boyars – military aristocracy
21
Procopius: A Byzantine historian in a book known as the Secret History (Anekdota)
Emperor Justinian then, was deceitful, devious, false, hypocritical, two-faced, cruel, skilled in dissembling his thought, never moved to tears by either joy or pain, though he could summon them artfully at will when the occasion demanded, a liar always, not only offhand, but in writing, and when he swore sacred oaths to his subjects in their very hearing. Then he would immediately break his agreements and pledges, like the vilest of slaves, whom indeed only the fear of torture drives to confess their perjury. A faithless friend, he was a treacherous enemy, insane for murder and plunder, quarrelsome and revolutionary, easily led to anything, but never willing to listen to good counsel, quick to plan mischief and carry it out, but finding even the hearing of anything good distasteful to his ears. POV!!!
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.