1. Chapter 8 The Byzantine Empire and Emerging Europe
LESSON 1 – The First Christians
LESSON 2 – THE DECLINE OF ROME
LESSON 3 – THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
LESSON 4 – THE AGE OF CHARLEMAGNE
LESSON 5 – THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

2. After the Western Roman Empire fell in 476CE the Eastern part continued…We call it:
The Byzantine Empire
The most famous emperor was named Justinian I, who ruled from CE

3. He wanted to re-establish the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean

4. Under Justinian I, the Byzantines:
Re-gained much territory of the old Roman Empire (most was lost after his death)
Codified old Roman Law: The Body of Civil Law was the last product of Eastern Roman culture to be written in Latin
*It is often referred to as Justinian's Code - it was the basis of law in the Eastern Roman Empire
It has had great influence on many other legal systems
Plague – 10,000/day were dying; broke out every 8-12 years
Justinian took steps to create a uniform law code called Justinian’s Code
Four Parts:
The Code – contained around 5,000 Roman Laws
The Digest – Commentary form legal scholars about laws
The Institutes – instructed law students on how to use the laws
The Novellae – contained laws enacted after 534
Regulated all aspects of life in the Byzantine Empire

5. However, the Byzantines (like the Romans) had serious problems:
too much territory made it difficult to protect and communicate
2. little $$$$$$$$$$ in the treasury
attacks from Persia in the east and from Slavs in the north

6. The conflict was mainly due to a disagreement over Papal authority
conflict between the Roman Catholic Church in the west and the Eastern Orthodox Church in Byzantium
The conflict was mainly due to a disagreement over Papal authority
This caused a SCHISM or break between the two branches of Christianity
Catholic into Eastern Orthodox
Based on St. Basil and St. John Chysostrom (patriarch)
Emperors had some powers in the East over patriarchs – in 730, Leo III banned icons (religious images)
Many broke into churches to destroy icons
Pope (Leader of church in west) supported the use of icons, so he excommunicated the emperor
In 1054, the Pope and the Patriarch excommunicated one another, after that the church was permanently split
Eastern Orthodox Church (Orthodox - eastern traditional)
Roman Catholic Church (Catholic - universal, all-embracing)

7. The rise of Islam
This was a powerful new force that was threatening the eastern part of the empire

8. The Byzantine Empire was a Christian state that spoke Greek
Latin, which had always been spoken in Italy during the Roman Empire, fell into disuse Greek became the official language
Other characteristics:
The Emperor's authority was absolute
Constantinople was the largest city in Europe and center of trade

9. 3. Justinian initiated incredible building projects like the
3. Justinian initiated incredible building projects like the Haggia Sophia

10. Revival:
in the 10th-11th centuries under Macedonian emperors, Byzantines increased in prosperity until power struggles caused decline
Power struggles?