THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE 330 A D 1453 A

THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE 330 A. D. -1453 A. D.

I. Constantinople A Rich and Powerful City • Emperor Constantine 330 A. D. • Trade – cross roads of land sea routes • Secure - Construction of High Walls

Constantinople

High Walls

Byzantine Empire

Constantinople Rich and Powerful • Commanded key trade routes • For Centuries, the cities favorable location made it Europe’s busiest marketplace • China – silks • Egypt – wheat • India – gems • S. E. Asia – Spices • Viking Lands - Furs

II. Justinian’s Accomplishments 525 -565

A. Military Expansion • Increased the holdings of the Byzantine Empire to include: • North Africa • Italy • Iberia (Spain) • Tried to rebuild the Roman Empire • Weakened his treasury – victory temporary

B. Rebuilds City • Hagia Sophia – “Holy Wisdom” • “Oh glory to God who has judged me worthy of accomplishing such a work as this!” • “O Solomon, I have surpassed you. ”

Hagia Sophia

Inside

C. The Effects of Justinian’s Code • Sets up commission to: • collect, revise, and organize all the laws of ancient Rome • Corpus Juris Civilis or “Body of Civil Law” • AKA – JUSTINIAN’S CODE: • Laws passed by Roman assemblies, decrees from emperors, legal writings from Roman judges, and a handbook for students • European Monarch centuries later model their laws on its principles

D. Autocracy • Emperor and Christ’s co-ruler on Earth • Political power and spiritual authority

E. Powerful Military • Strongest military force in the world • Soldiers, navy fortresses protected the city • “Greek Fire” – Napalm

F. Economic Power • • • Strong central government Peasants worked the land –paying taxes And providing soldiers Cities – trade flourished Healthy money economy – bezant

III. Byzantine Christianity

A. Differences Between East and West • • • Claims of authority – Patriarch v. Pope Use of Icons – the debate over graven images Marriage Greek v. Latin 1054 – Great Schism – both excommunicate each other

IV. Byzantine Empire Destroyed

A. Crisis and Collapse • • • Struggles over power and succession Norman Conquest of Southern Italy 1090 s - Seljuk Turks advance across Asia Minor (Leading to First Crusade) Conflict with Venice over trade (4 th Crusade ) Ottoman Turks under Mehmet II – 1453

V. IMPORTANT DATES • 330 A. D. – Emperor Constantine move capital to Byzantium (Constantinople) • 527 A. D. to 565 Reign of Justinian • 532 – Riots and fire swept Constantinople – led to Hagia Sophia • 600 -700 s – Byzantine Empire attacked Persians, Slavs, Vikings, Huns, Turks, Arabs • 1054 – Great Schism • 1090 s – Byzantium asks the West for help in defending Muslim Turks • 1260 s – Byzantine reclaim throne from Venetians • 1453 – Ottoman Turks take over Constantinople rename it Istanbul