Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire with territory in

Byzantine Empire • The Byzantine Empire with territory in the Balkans, the Middle East, and the eastern Mediterranean, maintained very high levels of political, economic, and cultural life between 500 and 1450 C. E. • The Byzantine Empire, once part of the grater Roman Empire continued flourishing from an eastern Mediterranean base after Roman decline • The empire continued many Roman patterns and spread its Orthodox Christian civilization through most off eastern Europe.

Emperor Constantine in the 4 th c. established a capital at Constantinople Greek became the official tongue after the 6 th c. The empire benefited from the high level of civilization in the former Hellenistic world and from the region’s prosperous commerce It held off barbarian invaders and developed a trained civilian bureaucracy • Constantinople –Capital of the Byzantine Empire; constructed on the site of Byzantium, an old Greek city on the Bosporus

Germanic invaders pounded the Roman empire in the west Huns – Group of nomadic tribes that pushed through central Europe in the 4 th and 5 th c. instigating the migration of the Germanic tribes into the Roman Empire Remember…… Most emperors that were conquered moved their empire back in the east

Important New Center Constantinople – “Second Rome” Located on a strait that linked Mediterranean and Black Seas Key trading route linking Europe, Africa and Asia – Buffer between Western Europe and Asia Hellenistic culture – After Alexander’s death, Greek art, education, and culture merged with those in the Middle East Trade and important scientific centers were established, such as Alexandria, Egypt

Byzantine Empire-(Eastern Roman Empire)

The Age of Justinian 527 -565 Byzantine empire reached greatest size Wanted to recover what had been lost during the fall of Rome Re-conquered N. Africa, Italy and southern Spain – Victories were temporary • Justinian rebuilt Constantinople in classical style; among the architectural achievements was the huge church of Hagia Sophia

• Justinian – 6 th c. Byzantine emperor; failed to reconquer the western portions of the empire; rebuilt Constantinople; codified Roman law • Hagia Sophia – Great domed church constructed during the reign of Justinian • Body of Civil Law – Justinian’s codification of Roman law; reconciled Roman edicts and decisions; mad Roman law a coherent basis for political and economic life • Icons – Images of religious figures venerated by Byzantine Christians

• Justinian codification of Roman law was his greatest achievement • The revived empire withstood the 7 th c. advance of Arab Muslims although important regions were lost along the eastern Mediterranean and the northern Middle Eastern heartland Hagia Sophia • Byzantine political patterns resembled the earlier Chinese system • Am emperor, ordained by God and surrounded by elaborate court ritual, headed both church and state

During Middle Ages Dispute over use of icons (Holy Images) contributed to split Byzantine Emperor outlawed prayer to icons Two branches of Christianity grew further apart 1054 provoked a permanent split between Byzantine, Eastern (Greek) Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church Iconoclasm – The breaking of images; religious controversy of the 8 th c. Byzantine emperor attempted, but failed to suppress icon veneration

CHRISTIANS BUT DIFFERENCES DIVIDED!!! ****Divisions in the Church West Pope in Rome Latin Language Most important holy day Christmas East, Constantinople Patriarch in the Byzantine-rejected Pope’s authority Clergy could marry Greek Language Most important holy day Easter

Compare churches…. . • The final break between the two churches occurred in 1054 over arguments about the type of bread used in the mass and the celibacy of priests

Byzantine Heritage Built on the Hellenistic culture – Christian beliefs – Greek science, art and literature – Roman engineering

The World of Learning Preserved classic works of ancient Greece Mostly concerned with writing about their own times Many went and taught at universities in Italy, Contributed to the birth of the next cultural time in European history, Renaissance

• The long decline began in 11 th c. • Muslim Turkish invaders seized almost all of the empires Asian provinces, removing the most important sources of taxes and food • Crusaders, led by Venetian merchants, sacked Constantinople in 1204 • A smaller empire struggled to survive for another two centuries • In 1453, the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople

What happened to the Byzantine? Crusades – Byzantine emperor called for help to fight the Muslims headed for Jerusalem Western Christians drained $$$ Muslims took control of northern territories – Muslims eventually took Constantinople and renamed it Istanbul

Geography-lies on Eurasian plain and borders China Ural Mts. Physical boundary Wanted Moscow to be the “Third Rome” 3 regions helped shape early Russian life – North-Lumber and hunting – South-Fertile land for farming – Steppe-treeless grassland Open to nomads from Asia and Europe • Kiev – Commercial city in Ukraine established by Scandinavians in 9 thc, became the center for a kingdom that flourished until the 12 th c. Rise of Russia

Steppe Areas Great “Highway” Nomadic migrates Rivers linked Byzantine to Russia • Vladimir I – ruler of Kiev (9801015) converted kingdom to orthodox Christianity • Russian Orthodoxy – Russian form of Christianity brought from the Byzantine Empire

First Civilization Kiev in Present day Ukraine Home of vital trading networks Would become the center of the first Russian state Boyars – Russian landholding aristocrats; possessed less political power than their western European counterparts

Kiev and the Byzantine Empire Trade helped Kiev enter the Byzantine empire 957 Princess Olga of Kiev converted to Byzantine Christianity – Grandson spread religion which gained strength Russians started to adapt religious art, music and architecture – Onion domes

Onion Domes is a type of architectural dome that frequently adorns Russian Orthodox Churches.

Symbolism The domes are often brightly painted; the colors symbolize different aspects of religion. – Green, blue, and gold domes represent the Holy Trinity, the Spirit of God, and Jesus, respectively. Green dome – Onion domes often appear in groups of three or five, representing the Holy Trinity or Jesus and the Four Evangelists, respectively. Domes standing alone represent Jesus.


Mongol Influences Nomadic people from central Asia – United by Genghiz Khan (Later Chapters) Looted and burned Kiev Russian princes had to pay money to rule without Mongol interference Mongol rule cut off Russian contacts with Western Europe which were making advances in art and science Russian Orthodox grows stronger due to religious toleration Tatars – Mongols who conquered Russian cities during the 13 th c. ; left Russian church and aristocracy intact

Moscow Takes Lead With their location near trading rivers, Moscow steadily increased their power Head of Russian Orthodox church made Moscow capital, became political and spiritual center

Ivan the Great ---- Ivan III Recovered Russian territories that were lost to invaders Tried to limit the power of boyars (landowning nobles) Took on the title of Czar (Russian for Caesar)

Ivan the Terrible --- Ivan IV Grandson Nobles granted land for military service Tied serfs to land Violent, killed own son Black horses and black robes-slaughtered rebels Introduced Russia to extreme absolute power Eastern Europe

Recap Byzantine Greek language Claimed right to appoint the head of the church Did not accept pope $$ Good – Silk, Paper Taxes provided money to run govt. and army Western Europe Latin in churches Pope had power and the people accepted Trade, town life and learning declined after the fall of Rome

Shaping Eastern Europe Geography makes area cultural crossroads Crusades will bring in a lot of Muslims to area
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