The Byzantine Empire A New Rome Byzantium Overview

The Byzantine Empire A New Rome

Byzantium Overview � Let’s look at the BIG IDEAS

“TWO ROMES” EAST AND WEST � THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE ALLOWS ROMAN IDEAS TO STAY ALIVE � IT BECOME MORE GREEK THAN LATIN OVER TIME

� BYZANTIUM WAS MORE THAN ‘PART’ OF ROME � IT LATER SURPASSED ROME IN THE 4 TH CENTURY � IT’S UNIQUE CULTURAL IDENTITY SPREAD � GREATLY INFLUENCED RUSSIA

PROBLEMS, … INVASIONS BECAUSE OF IT’S SEPARATION, THEY SURVIVED THE NOMADIC INVASIONS THAT TORE WESTERN ROME APART � EASTERN EMPERORS RULED FROM THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN TO NORTH AFRICA �

DEVELOPED A HIGHLY CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT THAT EMPHASIZED BEAUROCRACY OVER MILITARY POWER � THE CULTURE SHIFTED TO GREEK AWAY FROM ROMAN IDEAS �

� EMPEROR IS PRIEST KING, � ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ � MODELED � AND? ? ? (basileus) AFTER KING DAVID

� EMPEROR IS PRIEST KING, � ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ � MODELED (basileus) AFTER KING DAVID � AND? ? ? �Jesus. � How does this differ from the West?

What are the advantages of building a major city here?

Advantages Peninsula � Provided natural safe harbors for ships � � both merchant and military ships Provided natural defense � water on three sides. (the Black and Aegean Seas)

Advantages Trade � Easy access to the Mediterranean Sea � Located at an important land route that linked Europe and Asia (Silk Road).

The founding of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire � Since the Rule of Diocletian (in the late 200 s A. D. ) The Roman Empire was divided in two. � Western � � and Eastern Empires. The Western half was being weakened by constant attacking Germanic invaders. In 330 A. D. Emperor Constantine decided to relocate the capital.

� � He chose to locate the capital at the Greek city of Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople. (this was the area we looked at on the map) Constantine molded the new capital after Rome. � Often referred to as “new Rome”

Constantinople � City was heavily fortified � Water on three side plus a wall was built to protect the fourth side. � Multi ethnic city � Greeks, Persians, Italians, Slavs, Armenians, and Jews lived in the city � The citizens spoke Greek, but Latin was the official language.

Constantinople � � During Constantine's rule over 600, 000 people lived in the city. Constantine convinced many wealthy Romans to move to the city by offering to build them palaces.

THE SPLIT: EAST & WEST � � � In 410 A. D. Rome fell to the Germanic invaders. However, the city of Constantinople and the eastern empire remained. This is when the Byzantine Empire started.

FROM ROMAN EMPIRE TO BYZANTINE EMPIRE � REMEMBER!!! � Western half crumbled, eastern half remained intact Eastern half was largely Christian and Greek speaking Eastern half also contained different Christian sects Great wealth and large population � The Byzantine emperors faced different challenges Conflict with Sasanid dynasty (226 -641 AD) in Persia Invasions of migratory peoples from the north and east � � Tightly centralized rule of a highly exalted emperor Caesaropapism: Emperor is both caesar and pope The state and church are separate Emperor appoints patriarchs, influence over pope � Emperors also stood above the law Dress and court etiquette designed to enhance rulers' status Adopted Oriental style monarchy with all the symbols

JUSTINIAN AND THEODORA � From 476 to late 6 th Century CE � � � Justinian and Theodora � � Issued Corpus iuris civilis (The Body of the Civil Law) The code influenced civil law codes of western Europe, post. Renaissance Bzantine conquests � � � Couple came from obscure origins Seized power through bureaucracy Theodora was a strong advisor Justinian Code (This is important!) � � � Empire was weak in Europe Dealt with invasions Belisarius, Narses reconquered part of western Empire North Africa, Italy, coast of Southern Spain Threats from Sasanids and Slavic peoples � � Persians were a constant threat Slavs migrated into Balkans; settled in interior lands

The Reign of Justinian � The height of the first period of Byzantine history (324 632) was the reign of Emperor Justinian (r. 537 565) and his wife Empress Theodora (d. 548)

The Imperial Goal: Unity The imperial goal in the East was to centralize government and impose legal and doctrinal conformity. One God One Empire One Religion

1 st Method: Law Justinian collated and revised Roman law. His Corpus Juris Civilis (body of civil law) had little effect on medieval common law. However, beginning with the Renaissance, it provided the foundation for most European law down to the 19 th century.

2 nd Method: Religion as well as law served imperial centralization. In 380, Christianity had been proclaimed the official religion of the eastern empire. Now all other religions were considered “demented and insane. ”

Increase in Church Wealth Between the 4 th and 6 th centuries, the patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem acquired enormous wealth in the form of land gold.

Increase in Clergy The prestige and comfort that the clergy enjoyed swelled the ranks of the clergy in the Eastern Church.

Independent Thinking Ideas thought to be heresies by the Roman Catholic Church received imperial support: Arianism denied that Father and Son were equal and coeternal. Monophysitism taught that Jesus had only one nature, a composite divine-human one. Iconoclasm forbid the use of images (icons) because it led to idolatry.

3 rd Method: Strong Cities During Justinian’s reign, the empire’s strength was its more than 1, 500 cities. The largest with 350, 000 inhabitants, was Constantinople, the cultural crossroads of Asian and European civilizations.

� � "Not since the world was made was there. . . so much wealth as was found in Constantinople. For the Greeks say that two-thirds of the wealth of this world is in Constantinople and the other third scattered throughout the world. " Robert of Clari, a French crusader who witnessed the pillage of the city in 1204, describing Constantinople.

Loyal Governors and Bishops Between the 4 th and 5 th centuries, councils were made up of local wealthy landowners, who were not necessarily loyal to the emperor. By the 6 th century, special governors and bishops replaced the councils and proved to be more loyal to the emperor.

Extensive Building Plans Justinian was an ambitious builder. His greatest monument was the magnificent domed church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), which was constructed in just five years (532 37).

BYZANTINE EMPIRE c. 600 CE

Threats to Byzantium � The emergence of the Islamic state � Arab peoples conquered Sasanids, part of Byzantium Lost Egypt, North Africa, Fertile Cresent, Crete, Cyprus � � � Prolonged sieges of Constantinople by Islamic armies Byzantine survived partly because of "Greek fire" Imperial organization � � Government run by trained bureaucracy, professional army The theme system strengthened Byzantine society � � Under rule of general, who ran army, civil bureaucracy Responsible for protecting peasants Themes were provinces organized on a military basis Local officials recruited troops from within theme Aristocrats limited by army, emperor, bureaucracy The revival of the empire � � Reconquered Syria, Crete, Cyprus: 10 th century "Basil the Bulgar Slayer, " crushed Bulgars in Balkans

THE THREAT OF ISLAM

MAP OF THE EMPIRE

BYZANTIUM & WESTERN EUROPE � Tensions between Greeks and Latins � Ecclesiastical tensions Constantinople � Greek was religious language � Caesaropapist emperors Rome � Latin was chief language � Autonomy from imperial authorities � Rivalry for conversion of Slavs Political grievances � First Franks then Germans claimed imperial authority � Charlemagne received imperial crown in 800 � Otto of Saxony claimed himself an emperor in 962 � � Byzantines felt they were only legitimate emperor Rivalry over Southern Italy and Sicily

BYZANTINE ECONOMY � The Agricultural Economy � The peasantry � The backbone of the Byzantine army and economy Landless peasants worked as share-croppers Invasions of 6 th, 7 th century led to theme system Since 11 th century, free peasants declined Consequences of the peasantry's decline Landowners shifted taxes to peasants Landowners raised forces on estates Pool of military recruits shrank � Industry and Trade � Manufacturing enterprises Byzantine craftsmen had high reputation in various industries High-quality silk became important industry; imperial monopoly � Trade Constantinople, important for Eurasian, Mediterranean trade Solidus was the standard currency of the Mediterranean basin Byzantium drew enormous wealth from foreign trade � Banks and partnerships supported commercial economy

URBAN LIFE � Urban Life The capital was the heart of the empire � Housing in Constantinople � Enormous palaces owned by aristocrats Less splendid dwellings owned by less privileged classes � Attractions of Constantinople City of baths, taverns, restaurants, theaters, Hippodrome The most popular game - chariot races � Greens and Blues The two factions of fans for chariot races � Frequent fights in the street between them � Joined together in a popular uprising, 532 � The riot left Constantinople in shambles �

THE CITY OF CONSTANTINOPLE

TWIN LEGACIES � Byzantine education � Scholarship � State-organized school system, Schools trained government bureaucrats Private education for aristocratic families Basic literacy was widespread even among lower classes Citizens constantly engaged in intellectual disputes Emphasis on humanities, classics Arts, architecture important for state, church Natural science generally ignored Educated considered heirs of classical Greece Christianity (Church) was other legacy

HAGIA SOFIA

BYZANTINE CHURCH � Church and state � � Iconoclasm � � Church's close relationship with the imperial government Constantine actively participated in religious debate Under emperors, church was department of state Controversy over use of icons in religious services Old Testament prohibition on false images, Islamic influences Iconoclasts wanted to purge all churches of icons Unpopular policy sparked protests, riots throughout the empire Opposed by Western Christians, Pope Much protest, excommunications from pope Emperors worried Ban inaugurated by Emperor Leo III in 726 AD The iconoclasts abandoned their effort in 843 AD Greek Philosophy and Byzantine theology � � Examine theology from philosophical point of view Debate about Jesus's nature, a philosophical issue Arian Heresy Monophysite Controversy

ICONS The word of God in art used for prayer: Iconographers read Bible passage, paint as a prayer. Icons follow certain styles using specific colors, images.

MONASTICISM AND PIETY � Asceticism Extreme asceticism, self-denial by some Christians � Many famous, wealthy retreated to monasteries � "Pillar saints" � � Byzantine monasticism and St. Basil Earliest monasteries of dedicated hermits, ascetics � Monasticism began in Egypt area � Reforms urged by St. Basil, 4 th century AD � � Monasteries provided local social services Hospitals, orphanages, poor relief � Heavily endowed by wealthy � � Not centers of learning

THE GREAT SCHISM � Constantinople and Rome � Political rivalry in Central Europe, Balkans, Southern Italy Popes supported anti-Byzantine Normans, Hungarians Papal missionaries active in Greek areas � Iconoclastic movement in the east criticized by the west Emperors vs. Popes Who is head of the church – pope or an emperor � Ritual, doctrinal differences � Leavened vs. unleavened bread Marriage of priests Liturgy in the vernacular Council rule versus the monarchical style of the pope Filoque controversy: Holy Spirit – from who does it proceed? Schism � Power struggle led to mutual excommunication, 1054 Rivalry between pope, patriarch Papal ambassador excommunicated patriarch; vise versa � � Origins of Eastern Orthodox & Roman Catholic churches It was really post-1054 actions were made split permanent

DOMESTIC PROBLEMS AND FOREIGN CHALLENGES � Social problems � � Challenges from the east � � Muslim Seljuk Turks invaded Anatolia, defeat Byzantines, 1071 Also took control of Abbasid Caliphate, Holy places in Jerusalem The loss of Anatolia sealed the fate of the Byzantine empire Challenges from the west � � � Generals, local aristocrats allied, a challenge to imperial power Free peasants were declining in number and prosperity Imperial government had fewer recruits, many fiscal problems Norman army expelled Byzantine authorities in southern Italy Normans, western Europeans mounted a series of crusades The fourth crusade sacked Constantinople Byzantine forces recaptured the capital in 1261 Byzantines never recovered Turks gradually push Byzantines out of Asia; into Europe

MAP OF BYZANTINE PROBLEMS

EASTERN EUROPE � Slavs, Avars, Magyars (Hungarians), Vlachs (Rumanians) As Germans moved west, Slavs moved into vacuum � Pushed into Balkans, Greece, Central Europe Generally agriculturalists, favored trade Avars and Magyars were pastoral nomads who invaded area � Settled in Pannonia, area of Danube plain outside Byzantine control Split Northern or Western Slavs from Southern of Jugo-slavs Vlachs: Latin speaking agriculturalists, herders in Transylvania � � Eastern Europe Byzantine ruled area up to Danube, into Bosnia � Slavs settled inside imperial boundaries Maintained close contact with Byzantium from the 6 th century The peoples included Serbs, Croats, Macedonians Rise Bulgars � Bulgars were Turkish pastoralists Conquered, settled in Danube area; adopted Slavic traditions Formed very powerful kingdom, threat to Byzantines � Missions to the Slavs � � � Byzantium sent missionaries to Central Europe, Balkans The mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius, mid-9 th century Cyrillic writing stimulated conversion to Orthodox Christianity � Split Allegiance of Eastern Europe Pope: Magyars, Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Croats, Slovenes Patriarch: Serbs, Bulgars, Macedonians, Russians, Romanians

SLAVIC MIGRATIONS

RUSSIA � Rise of Russia � � � The conversion of Prince Vladimir, 989 � � � Area inhabited by Slavs Varangians (Vikings) arrived, used river system Set up state based on trade, conquest around 9 th Century State founded by Rurik, people called Rus; capital Kiev Converted for trade, commercial reasons Elites baptized by order of prince, often against will Served as conduit for spread of Byzantine culture, religion Conversion led to literacy, use of Slavonic; Greek traditions Byzantine art and architecture dominated Kiev The growth of Kiev � � � Princes established caesaropapist control of church After 1453 claimed to inherit imperial crown of Byzantium State divided into provinces ruled by princes/boyars Landed nobles called boyars, constant strife with princes Kievan rule was very decentralized Constant threat, war with steppe nomads

RUSSIA � Why/How does Russia lay claim to being the inheritors of the Roman Empire?

End of the Line � � � The Story of the last 500 years of the empire are one of slow, managed decline. The sack of Constantinople by the 4 th Crusade (1204) is a huge blow to the city, people, and relations between East & West. Future generations will welcome the Turks (1453), thinking they will be more understanding and kind.

Conquered by the Ottoman Turks In 1453, the city was finally and permanently conquered by the Ottoman Turks and renamed Istanbul. Byzantine culture, law, and administration came to its final end.

Contribution to Western Civilization � � Throughout the early Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire remained a protective barrier between western Europe and hostile Persian, Arab, and Turkish armies. The Byzantines were also a major conduit of classical learning and science into the West down to the Renaissance. While western Europeans were fumbling to create a culture of their own, the cities of the Byzantine Empire provided them a model of a civilized society.