byzantium and christendom. introduction by 1300, europe and russia are christian division- eastern...

Byzantium and Christendom

Introduction By 1300, Europe and Russia are Christian

Division- eastern half- Byzantium- Eastern Orthodox western half- fragmented-

Roman Catholic

Western church & society was more rural

Christianity Contracted in Africa & Asia due to Islam

Islam took Jerusalem in 7th century

Most willingly converted

Christianity’s success as minority religion depended on tolerance of local rulers

Less tolerance as time passed

Byzantium Builds on Roman past

No clear starting point

330- Constantine builds Constantinople

Empire has 2 capitals

Division of Christendom

Eastern half lasts 1000 years after fall of Rome

Strategically located, walled city, near the water

Byzantium (Con’t)

Sought to restore the glory of Greco-Roman culture

Referred to themselves as “Romans”

Clothing- robes and sandals

State Structure Western Rome, Africa, and Middle East lost

Generals had authority to raise armies from local peasants

Very centralized authority

Emperor’s role as God’s representative

Caesaropapism- both a Caesar and Pope of Orthodox church

Legitimized rule & gave common identity

Aristocrats held gov’t positions

Territory shrank around 1095- Crusades

Falls to Ottoman Turks in 1453

Christian Conflict Orthodox- “right thinking”

Churches had icons- religious images

Doctrine differences with Roman Catholics

Turn doctrine into Greek philosophical arguments

1054- both churches excommunicate one another

Crusades created more conflict

Byzantium and the World Conflicts with Arabs

Weapon- Greek fire

Important role in trade

Gold coin widely used

Products in high demand

Spread culture to Balkans & Russia

Cyrillic alphabet spread by missionaries

Conversion of Russia

Kiev Rus emerged in 9th century

Created via trade

High level of social stratification

Regional religions until Prince Vladimir’s conversion

Unifying identity for the people

Moscow- 3rd Rome?

Western Europe

Margins of civilization until 1500

Shift from Rome to West & North

Series of kingdoms ruled, eventually forming states

Roman law adopted

Charlemagne & Carolingian Empire-

Roman bureaucracy & crowned new

emperor of Rome in 800- Holy Roman

Empire

New Kingdoms

Feudalism

Protection

Catholic Church fills administrative duties

Latin continues ^

Rulers convert, gain protection

Catholicism embraces native practices

Conflict w/ kings & Church

Change in the West

Climate change

High Middle Ages- 1000-1300

35 million in 1000 80 million in 1350

Environmental changes

Cities were smaller than other civilizations’ cities

Urbanization- slow, only about 10%

Develop guilds- Hanseatic League was one

Women’s role in economy grows, then shrinks

Men- providers, not fighters

Crusades After 1000, Western Europe on the rise

Byzantium under pressure

Increasing contact with India, China, and Mongolia

1095- Crusades begin

Fighters go to Heaven

Largely decentralized project

Main goal- Jerusalem

Spain brought into Christendom, Byzantium weakened, Popes strengthen their position, Cultural diffusion

Deepens divide between Catholic & Orthodox

European Advancements

Complete chart

Many farming advancements

New water-driven windmill

Advances in weapons, ship-building, and navigation

Politics

Slowly develop states

No single empire- geographic, linguistic, and cultural barriers

Frequent wars drove gunpowder revolution

Rivalries stimulate technology development

More separation of Church & state than the East

Merchants had autonomy

Led to capitalism?

Reason & Faith

Greek philosophy’s influence

Stoicism- reason, indifference, endurance

Renewal of interest in Greek texts- especially Aristotle

Application of reason to non-religious subjects

Lays foundation for Scientific Revolution

Byzantium- largely against this movement

Islam- translates many Greek texts

Does science reinforce faith or seek to destroy it?

Legacy

Crusades

Christianity’s split

Constant military campaigns- WWI and WWII

Religion &/vs. science

Separation of Church and state

The rise of the dominant power of 18th-21st centuries