1. Chapter 1 lesson 3 Class Notes
THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
Chapter 1 lesson 3
Class Notes

2. Chapter 1 Lesson 3 I. The Rise of the Byzantines
A. The Eastern Roman Empire was known as the Byzantine Empire. It consisted of Greeks, Egyptians, Arabs, Armenians, Jews, Persians, Slavs, and Turks.
B. Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

3. Discussion Questions: (You do not need to write in your spirals)
How was the Byzantine Empire similar to the United States?
Why do you think Constantinople was selected as the capital of the Eastern Empire? Who was responsible for making this the capital?
Other than English, what cultures have influenced the United States? How?

4. C. Constantinople was located between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, at the crossroads of trade between Europe and Asia.
D. People of Constantinople followed Roman ways. They spoke Latin and followed Roman laws (Twelve Tables)
HAGIA SOPHIA

5. E. Eventually, the Byzantine Empire became
more influenced by Greek culture. People spoke
Greek and drew upon Greek culture.
F. The ideas of others mixed into the Byzantine
Empire.

7. Discussion Questions: (you do not need to write in your spirals)
How did the geography around Constantinople help keep its inhabitants safe?
How were Romans and Greeks similar?
Why do you think the Eastern Empire (Byzantine) continued to prosper while the Western Empire collapsed?
What events might lead your family to leave La Canada or even California?

8. Chapter 1 lesson 3 II. Emperor Justinian
A. Emperor Justinian was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from A.D. 527 until A.D. 565.
B. Empress Theodora, Justinian’s wife, helped her husband run the empire. She gave him advice and advocated rights for women.

9. Discussion Questions:
Name a few people that have advocated rights for women?
Name a famous woman world leader today.
What regions would Justinian want to conquer to restore the “old” Roman Empire to its past glory?

10. D. Belisarius was a general who helped lead the Byzantine army.
C. Justinian tried to restore the Roman Empire by invading Western Europe and Northern Africa.
D. Belisarius was a general who helped lead the Byzantine army.
E. Tribonian was a legal scholar who helped to simplify the legal code and made it easier to understand.
GENERAL BELISARIUS

11. Discussion Questions:
What advantages would the people of Europe have being unified under one ruler (Justinian) instead of living in several small kingdoms?
Who was Belisarius able to defeat to extend the Byzantine empire further east?
Why do laws need to be changed after many years? Can you think of laws we have today that people during the Byzantine empire didn’t have or need?

12. Chapter 1 lesson 3 III. The Byzantine Church
A. Under the leadership of the Pope, the Latin churches of the Western Roman Empire became known as the Roman Catholic Church. In the East, the Roman Empire developed into the Byzantine Empire.

13. B. The Byzantine religion was known as the Eastern Orthodox Church.
C. The emperor chose the leading church official in the Eastern Orthodox Church. This person was known as the Patriarch of Constantinople.

14. D. An argument over icons, or images of religious figures, divided the church. Emperor Leo III ordered all icons removed from the churches. Most people disagreed with his order.
E. An argument started when the pope claimed he was in charge of all Christian churches. This angered many in the Eastern Orthodox Church and they saw the Patriarch of Constantinople as equal to the pope.
F. Each church sometimes refused to help the other when outsiders attacked.

15. G. When the pope gave the Frankish king, Charlemagne, the title of emperor, the Byzantines were angry.
H. After centuries of tension, the pope and the patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other.

16. Chapter 1 lesson 3 IV. Byzantine Civilization
A. The Byzantine Empire lasted for about 1,000 years. Constantinople was its largest and wealthiest city.
B. The Byzantine Empire depended on trade. It was the center of trade between Europe and Asia.
C. Silk weaving was a major industry
D. Byzantine emperors supported artist and architects
E. Hagia Sophia was the religious center of the Byzantine Empire.

17. F. Mosaics are pictures that are made from many bits of glass or stone
F. Mosaics are pictures that are made from many bits of glass or stone. Most mosaics represented saints, or Christian holy people.
G. Byzantine women obtained some rights, they became educated, and some served as regents, or people that could fill in for a ruler.