europe, 600 - 1450

Chapter 9 (pp. 253 – 263)

Europe, 600 - 1450

GeographyEastern half of the Roman EmpireEastern Mediterranean

Centered in Greece & AnatoliaNeighbors w/ Abbasids & Kievan RussiaCapital @ Constantinople (modern day Istanbul, Turkey)

The Byzantine Empire

Founding characteristicsChristianContinued Roman

imperial rule & traditionJustinian’s CodeCombined the

role of the emperor w/ political oversight of the Christian Church

The Byzantine Empire

Cultural AchievementsHagia SophiaIconsCyrillic Alphabet

The Byzantine Empire

The Cyrillic Alphabet

Society & Urban LifeThe Plague of Justinian

Population declinesDecline of the urban elite

Led to growing disparity b/t rich & poorGender roles became more patriarchal

Women veiled & confined to homesException occurred b/t 1028 – 1056 when women helped rule the

EmpireEconomic decline

Due in part to the plague & other epidemicsReverted to barter systemGov’t intervention in trade slowed economic innovation

The Byzantine Empire

Decline of the EmpireBy the mid-600s, Arab

(Islamic) invasions began to chip away at the Empire

Later, attacks by Germanic invaders, Slavs, etc. weakened the Byzantines

1024, the Great Schism damaged the relationship b/t East & West EuropeLed to split b/t Catholics &

Orthodox Christians1453, Ottoman Turks

overran the Empire

The Byzantine Empire

1. How did the rise of Islam impact the Byzantine Empire?

2. Why was the Great East-West Schism (1054) significant?

3. Beyond the greatness of Constantinople, what examples of Byzantine decline developed after 1000?

Quick Write 10/8

GeographyWestern half of

the Roman Empire

Western EuropeDecentralized

711, Muslims overran Spain & established Islamic state of Al-Andalas

Medieval Europe

Founding characteristicsChristian

Papacy centered in Italy

Lost the Roman imperial framework

Ruled by various king, nobles, chiefs, etc.

Period of fear & physical insecurityUrban &

infrastructural declineSubsistence lifestyles

Medieval Europe

The Carolingian Empire732, Charles Martel prevented

Muslims from invading FranceMartel’s Empire soon grew to

encompass most of Germany & Italy

Martel’s grandson Charles the Great “Charlemagne” was anointed “protector of the papacy”

Carolingian Dynasty came to an end in 843 w/ the Treaty of Verdun

Succeeded in 962 by the Holy Roman Empire

Medieval Europe

793, Vikings from Scandinavia began attacking northern territories in Western EuropeConquered Northern France & EnglandSailed across the Atlantic & organized

settlements in Iceland, Greenland & Newfoundland

Medieval Europe

Medieval Society Germanic customs replaced Roman

ones Ex. Latin split into the Romance

languages The Manorial System

Serfs replaced slaves Feudalism

Kings and lords gave land to “vassals” in return for military support

Knights Gender roles

Noble women were often forced to marry into land-based alliances

Peasant women lived more egalitarian lifestyles

Medieval Europe