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The BYZANTINE EMPIRE
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FROM ROMAN EMPIRE TO BYZANTINE EMPIRE
Late Roman Empire Western half crumbled, eastern half remained intact Eastern half also contained different Christian sects Early Byzantine State Tightly centralized rule of a highly exalted emperor Caesaropapism: Emperor is both “Caesar” and pope, combination of Church and State Emperors also stood above the law The Byzantine emperors faced different challenges Conflict with Persia Invasions of migratory peoples from the north and east
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BYZANTIUM & WESTERN EUROPE
Tensions between East and West Constantinople (East) Greek was religious language Caesaropapist emperors Rome (West) Latin was chief language Autonomy from imperial authorities Rivalry for conversion of Slavs Political Grievances Byzantines held the majority of the wealth and therefore thought they should be the only legitimate rulers Rivalry over Southern Italy and Sicily
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BYZANTINE ECONOMY The Agricultural Economy The Peasantry
The backbone of the Byzantine army and economy Since 11th century free peasants declined Consequences of the peasantry's decline Landowners raised armed forces on estates Pool of military recruits shrank Industry and Trade Manufacturing enterprises-> High-quality silk became important industry; imperial monopoly Trade – Byzantine Empire became enormously wealthy though foreign trade Sat at crossroads between Mediterranean, Asian, and Middle Eastern trade Had a standard currency for the Mediterranean basin Banks and partnerships supported commercial economy
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BYZANTINE CHURCH Iconoclasm
Controversy over use of icons in religious services Old Testament prohibition on false images, Islamic influences Iconoclasts wanted to purge all churches of icons Ban lasted from AD Opposed by Western Christians (further evidence of divide between the East and Western Church) Regular destruction of image, symbol, and statue representations Greek Philosophy and Byzantine Theology Debate about Jesus's nature, a philosophical issue Arian Heresy- denied that Father and Son were equal and coeternal Monophysite Controversy- taught that Jesus had only one nature, a composite divine-human one
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THE GREAT SCHISM Constantinople and Rome
Political rivalry in Central Europe, Balkans, Southern Italy Iconoclastic movement in the east criticized by the west Emperors vs. Popes Who is head of the church? – Pope or Emperor Ritual and Doctrinal Differences Leavened vs. unleavened bread Marriage of priests Liturgy in the vernacular Relationship of the Father and Son Schism Power struggle between Pope (West) and Patriarch (East) led to mutual excommunication in 1054 Origins of Eastern Orthodox & Roman Catholic churches
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THREAT OF ISLAM The emergence of the Islamic state weakened the Byzantine Empire Arab peoples conquered part of Byzantium Prolonged sieges of Constantinople by Islamic armies Imperial organization Government run by trained bureaucracy, professional army The theme system strengthened Byzantine society Under rule of general, who ran army, civil bureaucracy Provinces organized on a military basis Aristocrats limited by army, emperor, bureaucracy
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