Byzantine Empire AFTER THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS DIVIDED

Byzantine Empire AFTER THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS DIVIDED IN AD 395, THE EASTERN HALF EVENTUALLY BECAME KNOWN AS THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE. WEST INTO ITALY, SOUTH TO EGYPT, AND EAST TO THE ARABIAN BORDER GREEKS, EGYPTIANS, SYRIANS, ARABS, ARMENIANS, JEWS, PERSIANS, SLAVS, AND TURKS LIVED WITHIN THE EMPIRE.

The Beginning The Roman Empire shifted its power from Rome in the East, to Constantinople in the West The Eastern Roman Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire

Constantinople At the center of the Byzantine Empire was the city of Constantinople was surrounded by water on three sides, was the busiest market place in Europe, and there they sold goods like silk, gems, and wheat. AD 500 s, it was one of the world’s most advanced cities. Success was due to its prime location

Byzantine Empire was in existence up to 1, 000 years after the fall of Rome. Blended Greek, Roman, and Christian influences in this brilliant civilization.

Justinian Byzantine Empire reached its greatest size under the Emperor Justinian- skilled leader and strong general. Governed with supreme power- controlled the military and made all legal decisions. Empress Theodora (Justinian’s wife) had her hand in government. Justinian listened to her opinions, and he changed the laws where a wife could own land if she became widowed.

Justinian’s Legal Reforms Had a more simple code of laws written, this became known as the Justinian Code. It was a collection and revision of all laws from the past and present. This code helped officials and businesspeople better under the laws. Became the basis for many legal systems of almost every legal system in the Western world.

Byzantine Arts and Education Justinian and other emperors ordered the construction of many churches, forts, and government buildings Hagia Sofia – (Holy Wisdom) a beautiful church built to restore Roman glory; decorated with numerous mosaics showing popular saints. Education was important: boys studied religion, medicine, law, arithmetic, grammar, and other subjects.

Hagia Sophia https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ng--WLT 0 Xjc

The Church Christianity was extremely important and influential in the Byzantine Empire. A division emerged however in the church dealing with leadership roles. Patriarch – highest church official

The Church More division emerged with the use of icons with some Christian beliefs. AD 1054 a schism or permanent split occurred between the Byzantine (Eastern Greek Orthodox) and the Roman Catholic Church; they treated each other as rivals (pages 386 -389)

The Collapse of the Byzantine Empire occurred for several reasons; the split of the church caused fighting and wars struggles of succession advance of the Turks the Crusades Constantinople falls in 1453 as the Ottoman Empire begins