The Byzantine Empire World History I The Byzantine

The Byzantine Empire World History I

The Byzantine Empire – 565 C. E.

The New Eastern Empire • When the Western Roman Empire fell in 476, the eastern empire still survived as the Byzantine Empire • Lasted for 1000 years after fall of Rome • Capital city – Constantinople – Center of trade – Easily fortified site on a peninsula bordering natural harbor

Constantinople - Center of Trade Byzantine Empire became wealthy due to being center of trade

Justinian (ruled 527 – 565) • Byzantine emperors enjoyed absolute power • Expanded empire • Beautified Constantinople • Created Justinian Code of Law • Relied heavily on wife, Theodora, to help run empire

Justinian Conquers (Again) • Justinian reconquered lands lost by the Eastern Empire • Lands included parts of Italy, Africa, and Spain

Rebuilt Constantinople • Justinian began rebuilding the capital, Constantinople, after being damaged in a revolt • Rebuilt city walls • Built schools, hospitals, courts, churches • Most famous church and great architectural achievement was the Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Byzantine Art • Greatly inspired by Christianity and imperial power • Icons – religious images • Mosaics - the art of creating images using small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other material

Icons

Mosaics

Influence of Roman Law – Justinian Code • Justinian was highly influenced by Roman law – Had 10 scholars look through thousands of Roman laws to develop own code of law • Developed Justinian Code – uniform code of law based on Roman law – Included laws on marriage, slavery, property, women’s rights, and crime – Laws were strict but fair – Gave same rights to everyone – rich or poor • Highly influential – laws became model for lawmakers in Europe and our own laws

Influence of Roman and Greek Culture • Byzantines spoke Greek • Studied Latin, Greek, Roman literature and history

Tension between Eastern and Western Christian Churches • Division of the Roman empire affected the Christian Church • In the east – emperor had control over head of church – Caused by different cultural practices – Limited contact between areas – Religious practices developed differently • In the west – lack of emperor gave pope more responsibilities • Western pope claimed control over all Christian churches in east and west • Eastern church rejected authority of pope

The Church Divides • Christian Church split in 1054 – Known as “The Great Schism” – Roman Catholic Church in the west • Catholic – “universal” • Latin – official language – Eastern Orthodox Church in the east • Orthodox – “holding established beliefs” • Greek – official language • Split led to creation of two separate European civilizations

Eastern Orthodox Church

Roman Catholic Church

Influence on Russia • The Byzantine Empire greatly influenced Russia • Trade routes between Black Sea and Baltic Sea • Byzantine missionaries established Orthodox Churches in Russia – Russia and most of Eastern Europe adopted Orthodox Christianity as main religion • Byzantine missionaries even created an alphabet, the Cyrillic alphabet, to write the

Russian Orthodox Church

Byzantine Empire Collapses • New Arabian religion of Islam began in 600 s – Muslims armies attacked Constantinople • Civil wars, attacks by Ottoman Turks, Serbs, and Europeans hurt Byzantine Empire • Only small section of empire remained by 1350 • Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453 – This officially ended the Byzantine Empire