1. Byzantium the New Rome
World History

2. Old Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire crumbled in the 5th century as it was invaded by Germanic tribes
Emperor Constantine rebuilt Byzantium on the Bosporus straight
He renamed the capital Constantinople in 300 A.D.

3. Justinian: A New Line of Caesars
The East and West parts of the empire were officially divided in 395
Despite the separation, the eastern emperors still saw themselves as Roman Emperors
In 527, Justinian came to power

4. Justinian’s Power
Justinian claimed to be head of all of the Roman Empire, both east and west
533 he sends his best general, Belisarius to take back North Africa
535 Belisarius took back Rome from the Ostrogoths
Within 16 years of his taking power, Justinian ruled almost all the territory Rome once owned

5. Ruling with Absolute Power
Justinian ruled both the state and the Church
Appointed and dismissed bishops
Constant risk of assassination
*** Of 88 Byzantine emperors, 29 died violently, and 13 abandoned the throne to live in monasteries ***

6. Building the New Rome
To relegate a complex society, Justinian set up a panel of ten legal experts
Constantinople is set up as the center of trade. The silk road and royal road merges here.
Task was to make a uniform code of laws
They created what came to be known as the Justinian Code
Code consisted of four works

7. Justinian Code
1. The Code contained nearly 5,000 Roman laws believed to be useful
2. The Digest quoted and summarized the opinions of Rome’s greatest legal thinkers. Massive work ran 50 volumes
3. The Institutes was a textbook that told law students how to use the laws
4. The Novellae (New Laws) presented legislation passed after 534

8. Creating the Imperial Capital
He rebuilt the crumbling city walls
City’s coast was ringed by a 14-mile stone wall
Protected from its land route by a huge moat and 3 walls
Church building was his most passionate endeavor
He rebuilt the Hagia Sophia, which means “Holy Wisdom”

9. How Will You Save the Empire??
You are a Byzantine diplomat working to serve the best interests of your emperor and your empire. Byzantium is threatened by a rampaging army moving from the north down to Constantinople. You know that diplomacy, or clever negotiating with foreign powers, has been important in preserving Byzantium from destruction. Your mission is to convince the invading chief to stop advancing on the city. Will you threaten the chief with military retaliation, try to buy him off, or arrange a marriage between him and a Byzantine noblewoman to form an alliance? Maybe a mixture of them all?

10. As you weigh your options…
Consider…
1. The advantages of diplomacy over war
2. New diplomatic strategies to stop the coming attack
3. Circumstances that might convince you to recommend war