Byzantine Empire The New Rome Roman Empire split
Byzantine Empire “The New Rome”
Ø Roman Empire split in 395 C. E. Ø Constantinople became the center for trade and cultural diffusion l Strategically located where Europe meets Asia
“New Rome” Ø Emperors were Roman Ø They originally spoke Latin (later adopted the Greek language) Ø Wealthy families came from Rome Ø Eventually, Greek traditions were adopted Ø Developed Orthodox Religion Ø Between 500 -1200 CE, one of the most advanced civilizations in the world
Justinian Became emperor in 527 CE Ø Set up a panel of 10 experts to compile a law code “Justinian Code” l Became the foundation of law in most Western European countries l Compilation of early Roman laws and legal principals Ø
Ø He conquered Italy, Northern Africa, and Spain Ø This proved costly for the empire l l Exhausted funds and resources Empire was lost within a generation
Theodora Justinian’s wife Ø Focused on improving social status of women Ø Was considered a pioneer of feminism Ø
Hagia Sophia Ø Church rebuilt by Justinian Ø Used arches and pillars to make a dome ceiling Ø Filled with mosaics
Hagia Sophia
Use of the arch
Art- mosaics Theodora and her court
Hippodrome Ø Offered chariot races and circus acts
Muslim Conquest Ø In 1453, the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople. Ø Renamed the city, Istanbul. Ø Hagia Sophia was changed from a Christian church to a Muslim mosque.
The Church Divides Ø In 730, Emperor Leo III (Byz) banned the use of icons Ø Iconoclasts (icon breakers) broke into churches to destroy images Ø Tension between churches grew for years Ø In 1054, the pope and patriarch (bishop of the East) excommunicated each other
Ø Schism- permanent split of the Christian Church l l Roman Catholic in the West Eastern Orthodox in the East Blue- Roman Catholic Red- Eastern Orthodox Purple. Protestant (1500’s) Green- Islam
Schism Roman Catholic Service in Latin Ø Pope had authority over bishops Ø Pope claims authority over all kings and emperors Ø Priests may NOT marry Ø Divorce is NOT permitted Ø Eastern Orthodox Services in Greek Ø Patriarchs and bishops head the church together Ø Emperor claims authority over church Ø Priests may marry Ø Divorce is allowed Ø
Converting the Slavs Ø Saint Methodius and St. Cyril Ø Invented Cyrillic alphabet Vernacular bible l The early Cyrillic alphabet А Б В Г Д Є Ж Ѕ З И І К Л М Н О П Ҁ Р С Т Ѹ Ф Х Ѡ Ц Ч Ш Щ Ъ ЪІ Ь Ѣ Ю ІА Ѧ Ѩ Ѫ Ѭ Ѯ Ѱ Ѳ Ѵ Ѥ
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