6th/Social Studies

RISE OF THE BYZANTINES

OBJECTIVES

Identify the many achievements made by the Romans in government, law, language, and the arts

Learn how the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, grew rich and powerful as the Western Roman Empire fell apart

Discuss how the policies of Justinian and Theodora made the Byzantine Empire strong

Describe Byzantine culture, which was based on Roman, Greek, and Christian ideas

INTRODUCTION

In the chat pod, give me one interesting

word?Latin, the language of ancient

Rome, is the root for about 60% of the words in the English

language! In what other ways have the Romans left their mark on the World today? Let’s find

out!

BACKGROUND

Poor leadership, a declining economy, and attacks by Germanic tribes weakened the Roman Empire until Rome fell to invaders

Diocletian and Constantine attempted reforms to save the Empire

Constantine moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Constantinople (Byzantium in Greece)

The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, grew rich and powerful as the Western Roman Empire fell apart

LEGACY OF ROME

Rome has influenced today’s world in many areas

Law

Government

Language

Building techniques

Architecture

Spread of ChristianityPoll Question!!

RISE OF THE BYZANTINES

The Eastern Roman Empire became the Byzantine Empire

The location of its capital city, Constantinople, helped to make it safe from invaders and accessible to trade

Located on a peninsula

Wall built to protect against invaders

Located on trade route between Black and Aegean Seas

Greeks were the largest group, but Byzantines also included Egyptians, Syrians, Arabs, Armenians, Jews, Persians, Slavs, and Turks

Roman culture was initially very strong, but was eventually replaced with Greek and then a mixture of cultural ideas

EMPEROR JUSTINIAN

The policies and reforms of Emperor Justinian and his wife, Empress Theodora, helped make the Byzantine Empire strong

Theodora helped gain more rights for women

Justinian strengthened the military to attempt to reunite the two Roman Empires

Justinian simplified laws to make them easier to understand

CULTURE OF THE BYZANTINES

Byzantines developed a rich culture based on Roman, Greek, and Christian ideas

Byzantine Empire was the center of trade between Europe and Asia

Became a center for silk production after silkworms were smuggled out of China

Trade made Byzantine Empire wealthy

Emperors supported the arts and building of churches, forts, and other public buildings

The religious center of the empire, the church Hagia Sophia, features mosaics of saints

Mosaics- picture made from many bits of colored glass, tile, or stone Saint- Christian holy person

Watch Video

Poll Question!!

SOCIAL LIFE OF BYZANTINES

Family was the center of social life

Women gained rights and some even became Regents

Education was highly respected

Boys went to school to learn religion, law, medicine, math, reading

Authors wrote about religion and copied many works of the ancient Romans and Greeks

Regent- person who acts as a temporary ruler

Poll Question!!

REVIEW

Roman influence is seen today in government, law, language, and the arts

The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, grew rich and powerful as the Western Roman Empire fell apart

The policies of Justinian and Theodora made the Byzantine Empire strong

Byzantine culture was based on Roman, Greek, and Christian ideas

FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY

With the permission of your Learning Coach, conduct a web search for “Mosaics of Hagia Sophia” images

For extra credit, webmail me an image of a mosaic from Hagia Sophia