1. Chapter 14 – Civilization in Eastern Europe: Byzantium and Orthodox Europe

2. The Byzantine Empire – 500-1450 ce –
Maintained a high level of political, economic, and cultural activity – Official language was Greek – Constantinople was the capital – Orthodox Christianity dominant - key hub for international trade from west to east
Emperor Justinian – tried to reconquer the western Rome – creates a new legal code – built the Hagia Sophia, church
General Belisarius was able to regain some of western Rome, Italy -

5. Byzantium faced external threats from Persians, Arab Muslim, Germanic and Slavic peoples
Greek Fire – napalm
Emperors resemble Chinese rulers – court rituals – head of church and state – centralized authority and sophisticated bureaucracies -
Open to all classes

6. The Schism
1054 the Christian Church split into the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eatern Orthodox Church in the East
Attacks on different practices on each side caused the split
Mutual excommunication
The Pope was the head of the church in the west and the Patriarch was the head of the church in the East.

7. Appeal to West brings crusaders -
1204, Venetian crusaders sack Constantinople
Western Crusaders saw opportunity in going to the East – fame and fortune – chance to claim territory and create a kingdom of their own.
Empire’s Decline and collapse – in 1453 the Byzantine Empire fell to the Ottoman Turks
1461, empire gone

8. Emergence of Kievan Russia
Rurik created the first Rus Empire in Kiev, a trading city
Early Russia looked to the Byzantine Empire and the west for everything - trade and culture
Convert to Russian Orthodox Christianity
As the Byzantine Empire began to decline Russia went into isolation and the Mongol, Tatars took control