LOCATING THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE LOCATING CONSTANTINOPLE In 330

LOCATING THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

LOCATING CONSTANTINOPLE § In 330 CE, Emperor Constantine made the city of Byzantium the capital of the Roman Empire § Which he then renamed Constantinople § Why did Constantine move the capital from Rome to Constantinople? 1. Constantinople was distant from Germanic invaders in the west 2. It provided protection on the eastern frontier 3. It’s location served as a crossroads for trade between Europe and Asia 4. The city was easily fortified along a peninsula

Map of Byzantine Empire Black Sea Rome Constantinople Asia Minor Mediterranean Sea

THE ROLE OF CONSTANTINOPLE § Constantinople served as the seat or capital of the Byzantine Empire up until the conquest of the Ottoman Turks in 1453 CE § Constantinople preserved Greco-Roman culture through: § Libraries that preserved the works of Greek and Roman intellectuals § Promotion of public debates § Promoting advancements in science and philosophy § Passing Greco-Roman culture onto their Muslim conquerors, the Ottoman Turks § Constantinople’s location also served as a center for trade in the east § At the time Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) had immense

JUSTINIAN AND THEODORA’S EMPIRE

EMPEROR JUSTINIAN (527565 CE/AD) § Justinian is largely regarded as the greatest ruler of the Byzantines § Once Justinian became ruler he made one last attempt to reunite the whole Roman Empire, under his rule § While the reunification of Rome did not last, he was largely successful during his reign § Justinian was able to reconquer much of the former Roman territories in Italy and Africa § He also paid off the Frankish rulers in Gaul for their support

EMPEROR JUSTINIAN (527565 CE/AD) § Justinian’s military campaigns also greatly expanded trade and wealth with the Byzantine Empire, leading to a Golden Age in Byzantine history §Justinian’s success at reuniting former Roman territory was celebrating with the construction of the Church of Holy Wisdom, or the Hagia Sophia

EMPEROR JUSTINIAN (527565 CE/AD) § Perhaps the greatest contribution of Justinian was his codification of the Roman Laws (Twelve Tables) § Justinian collected and revised (amended) the Roman Laws and created what became known as Justinian’s Code § Justinian’s Code served to unite the empire and became the basis for all legal systems in the western world

THEODORA § Theodora was the wife, top adviser and eventually co-emperor of Justinian § Theodora came from humble a background and had a checkered past for the time § She had a child out of wedlock § She was an actress and erotic dancer

THEODORA § Theodora was a skilled politician and intelligent diplomat § So much so that the people of Constantinople believe it was she who ruled, rather than Justinian § When a rival emperor used forces to overthrow Justinian it was Theodora who convinced him to stay and fight for his throne § Theodora successfully passed laws that prohibited the trafficking of young girls and also altered divorce laws, which gave greater benefits to women