1. Introduction to the Byzantine Empire

2. Definition Byzantine: this term is a modern invention. The Byzantines called themselves either ‘Romans’ or ‘Greeks’. It was used for the medieval Greek-speaking, Christian empire that dominated the eastern Mediterranean. In antiquity, because of its strategic location, it was an important center for the transport of corn to Attica.

3. Just do it! Look at the following map and answer this question. What are the advantages of building a major city here?

5. Advantages Peninsula Provided natural safe harbors for ships both merchant and military ships Provided natural defense water on three sides. (the Black and Aegean Seas) MAP

6. Advantages Trade Easy access to the Mediterranean Sea Located at an important land route that linked Europe and Asia (Silk Road). MAP

7. The founding of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire Since the Rule of Diocletian (in the late 200s A.D.) The Roman Empire was divided in two. Western and Eastern Empires. The Western half was being weakened by constant attacking Germanic invaders. In 330 A.D. Emperor Constantine decided to relocate the capital.

8. He chose to locate the capital at the Greek city of Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople. (this was the area we looked at on the map) Constantine molded the new capital after Rome. Often referred to as “new Rome”

9. THE CITY OF CONSTANTINOPLE

10. Constantinople City was heavily fortified Water on three side plus a wall was built to protect the fourth side. Multi-ethnic city Greeks, Persians, Italians, Turks, Slavs, Armenians, and Jews lived in the city The citizens spoke Greek, but Latin was the official language.

11. Constantinople During Constantine's rule over 600,000 people lived in the city. Constantine convinced many wealthy Romans to move to the city by offering to build them palaces.

12. In 410 A.D. Rome fell to the Germanic invaders. However, the city of Constantinople and the eastern empire remained. This is when the Byzantine Empire started.

13. FROM ROMAN EMPIRE TO BYZANTINE EMPIRE The Byzantine emperors faced different challenges Conflict with Sasanid dynasty (226-641 C.E.) in Persia Invasions of migratory peoples from the north and east The early Byzantine State Tightly centralized rule of a highly exalted emperor Caesaropapism: Emperor is both caesar and pope The state and church are separate Emperor appoints patriarchs, influence over pope Emperors also stood above the law Dress and court etiquette designed to enhance rulers' status Adopted Oriental style monarchy with all the symbols

14. The Age of Justinian (527-75) 536: Reconquest of Rome and much of Italy took many years. North Africa and the Spanish coast were easily conquered. Victories over Sassanid Persia in the east consolidate the borders

15. JUSTINIAN AND THEODORA From 476 to late 6 th Century CE Empire was weak in Europe Dealt with invasions Justinian and Theodora Couple came from obscure origins Seized power through bureaucracy Theodora was a strong advisor Justinian Code Issued Corpus iuris civilis (The Body of the Civil Law) The code influenced civil law codes of western Europe Threats from Sasanids and Slavic peoples Persians were a constant threat

16. Hagia Sophia, Church of the Holy Wisdom, 6th c.

17. BYZANTINE EMPIRE c. 600 CE

18. Justinian’s legacy Hagia Sophia remained the seat of Eastern Christianity until the Fall of Constantinople. 552: Byzantine monks sneak silkworms and mulbery out of China. Justinian orders the codification of Roman law (Corpus Iuris Civilis). He was heavy-handed towards heresies In 529 he closed the philosophical school of Athens, thus destroying the last stronghold of paganism.

19. The Struggle with the Persians Justinian and his successors were locked into a titanic struggle with an old enemy and won. 627: Heraclios crushes the Persians at Nineveh. However, both Byzantines and Persians were exhausted and vulnerable to the Arabs and Islam.

20. Heraclius 610-641 Heraclius seized the throne from unpopopular Phocas He defeated Chosroes and the Persians Recovered many Byzantine territories Hellenized the empire Took the title basileus

21. BYZANTIUM & WESTERN EUROPE Tensions between Greeks and Latins Ecclesiastical tensions Constantinople Greek was religious language Caesaropapist emperors Rome Latin was chief language Autonomy from imperial authorities Rivalry for conversion of Slavs Political grievances Franks & Germans claimed imperial authority Charlemagne received imperial crown in 800 Otto of Saxony claimed himself an emperor in 962 Byzantines felt they were only legitimate emperor

22. BYZANTINE CHURCH Church and state Church's close relationship with the imperial government Constantine actively participated in religious debate Under emperors, church was department of state Justinian organizes church under five Patriarchs (Pentarchy) Iconoclasm Controversy over use of icons in religious services Old Testament prohibition on false images Islamic influences from Arabian Peninsula Iconoclasts wanted to purge all churches of icons Ban on Icons inaugurated by Emperor Leo III in 726 C.E. Unpopular policy sparked protests, riots throughout the empire Opposed by Western Christians & Roman Patriarch (ie: the Pope) The iconoclasts abandoned their effort in 843 C.E. Much protest and many excommunications from Rome Emperors worried about unrest and instability

23. ICONS The word of God in art used for prayer: Iconographers read Bible passage, paint as a prayer. Icons follow certain styles using specific colors, images.

24. Constantinople & Rome Iconoclastic movement in the east criticized by the west Emperors vs. Roman Patriarch Who is head of the church? Pope or Emperor? Ritual and doctrinal differences Leavened vs. unleavened bread Marriage of priests Liturgy in the vernacular The Great Schism Power struggle led to mutual excommunication, 1054 Rivalry between Patriarch of Rome & Constantinople Papal ambassador excommunicated patriarch, who then excommunicates the Pope. Origins of Eastern Orthodox & Roman Catholic churches Continuation of rivalry after 1054 actions made split permanent

25. URBAN LIFE Urban Life The capital was the heart of the empire Housing in Constantinople Enormous palaces owned by aristocrats Less splendid dwellings owned by less privileged classes Attractions of Constantinople City of baths, taverns, restaurants, theaters, Hippodrome The most popular game - chariot races

26. BYZANTINE ECONOMY An Agricultural Economy The peasantry The backbone of the Byzantine army and economy Landless peasants worked as share-croppers Since 11th century, free peasants declined Consequences of the peasantry's decline Landowners shifted taxes to peasants Landowners raised forces for estates Pool of military recruits for empire shrank Industry and Trade Manufacturing enterprises Byzantine craftsmen had high reputation in various industries High-quality silk became important industry; imperial monopoly Trade Constantinople, important for Eurasian, Mediterranean trade Solidus was the standard currency of the Mediterranean basin Byzantium drew enormous wealth from foreign trade Banks and partnerships supported commercial economy

27. DOMESTIC PROBLEMS AND FOREIGN CHALLENGES Social problems Generals, local aristocrats allied, a challenge to imperial power Free peasants were declining in number and prosperity Imperial government had fewer recruits, many fiscal problems Challenges from the east Muslim Seljuk Turks invaded Anatolia, defeat Byzantines, 1071 Also took control of Abbasid Caliphate, Holy places in Jerusalem The loss of Anatolia sealed the fate of the Byzantine empire Challenges from the west Norman army expelled Byzantine authorities in southern Italy Normans, western Europeans mounted a series of crusades The fourth crusade sacked Constantinople Byzantine forces recaptured the capital in 1261 Byzantines never recovered Turks gradually push Byzantines out of Asia and move into Europe!

28. THREAT OF ISLAM The emergence of the Islamic state Arab peoples conquered Sasanids, part of Byzantium Prolonged sieges of Constantinople by Islamic armies Byzantine survived partly because of "Greek fire" Imperial organization Government run by trained bureaucracy, professional army The theme system strengthened Byzantine society Under rule of general, who ran army, civil bureaucracy Responsible for protecting peasants Aristocrats limited by army, emperor, bureaucracy

29. THE THREAT OF ISLAM

30. MAP OF THE EMPIRE

31. MAP OF BYZANTINE PROBLEMS

32. The Fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders, 1204

33. Frankish Constantinople (1204-1261) The sack of Constantinople: a great cultural calamity. Byzantine states in provinces (Nicaea, Trebizond, Epirus) The Latin empire of Constantinople was doomed, cut off from the West, with a determined Byzantine kingdom next to it, and a clergy very hostile to the Catholic primate.

34. The Latin Empire of Constantinople

35. The Palaiologean Period 1261: Michael VIII Palaiologos recaptures Constantinople, defeats the Latins and restores Byzantine form. The Empire he reconstituted would be squeezed between enemies from the west and the relentless assaults of the Turks in the east

36. The Palaiologean Renaissance Although politically the reign of Byzantium’s last and longest lasting dynasty was bleak, the arts and letters flourished. An increasingly more Hellenized state Some of the Palaiologean Emperors were able (e.g. Michael VIII, Manuel II) However, the weakened state did not have the manpower, energy, or resources to stop the the relentless march of the Ottoman Turks. The old empire fell after a long struggle.

37. The Fall of Constantinople The world turned its eyes on a depopulated Constantinople in the spring of 1453. A shadow of its former glory the imperial city fell after months of siege. Constantine XI, the last emperor became the subject of legends.

38. TWIN LEGACIES Byzantine education State-organized school system, Schools trained government bureaucrats Private education for aristocratic families Basic literacy was widespread even among lower classes Citizens constantly engaged in intellectual disputes Scholarship Emphasis on humanities, classics Arts, architecture important for state, church Natural science generally ignored Educated considered heirs of classical Greece Christianity (Orthodox Church) was other legacy

39. The religious art of Byzantium Intellectual, idealistic, schematic, with restrained colors and reserved form. Realism is rare and undesirable The objective is the spiritual elevation of the believer