Chapter 12Section 1

Byzantine Empire Justinian I Theodora Belisarius

Mosaics Icons Clergy Orthodox Church

Greek for city of Constantine

From 395 – 1453 seat of Eastern roman Empire

Also known as Byzantine Empire

Constantinople was richer and larger than Rome

Located on the Bosporus helped to control trade and protect from attack

Two strong walls helped it to thrive

Justinian I dreamed of restoring Rome

Reconquered Northern Africa from the Vandals

Used a fleet of ships

Belisarius- a top general also retook Italy

Theodora- wife of Justinian served as co-ruler

People did not like Justinian’s reforms

532 the Nike Revolt Two factions in

revolt Green lower class,

blue upper class, were chariot teams

Left Constantinople in flames

Justinian wanted to flee

Theodora refused to flee

Belisarius attacked rioters at the Hippodrome and slaughtered thousands

Rebellion gave a chance to rebuild the city

Hagia Sophia- Greek means holy wisdom

Most beautiful Christian Church

Reformed Roman Law

Emperors had not kept good records

Arranged existing laws and legal opinions in a clear system

Corpus Juris-Civilis (body of civil law)

Had 4 parts All existing

constitutions Include laws from

Justinian Called Justinian Code

Died 565 Government was

broke Expanded beyond

control Western provinces

fell to migrating tribes

610 Heraclius defeated Persians (eastern border)

West he settled Croats and Serbs on Balkan frontier as a buffer

They converted to Christianity

Was a priest king Deputy of Jesus Responsible for civil

and religious law Although Romans

very strong Greek influence

Heraclius made Greek official language, replaced Roman titles with Greek titles

Most Art, architecture and literature based on religious themes

Human subject were saints of figures from the Bible

Most art was in mosaics Created with tiny

pieces of glass, stone and clay

Some tiles had gold

Mosaics decorated floors, walls and ceilings

Nature of mosaics changed over time

Common themes Hand above cross

symbolized God 12 lambs- Christian

flock on earth

Force behind architecture

Churches had round domes over square foundations

Influenced building across Europe and Asia

700’s use of art in churches causes controversy

Icons-paintings and sculptures of sacred figures

Some Christians objected to them

Thought it idol worship

726 Emperor Leo III forbid use of images and ordered them destroyed

Ordered icons at entrance of the palace destroyed

Caused riots

Western church liked icons

Few people could read or write

Clergy used icons useful in teaching Christianity

843 icons accepted again

Growing divide between the Pope and Byzantine Empire

Eastern church allowed clergy to marry, western did not

Ideas on governing the church

East- emperor oversaw the church but did not govern

Bishops- church leaders

Pope in Rome Patriarchs in

Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem

Byzantines thought Pope was important but not their leader

Church councils- church officials met on major issues

1054 a schism occurred

East was the Orthodox Means right opinion Increased emperor’s

power Later would prove

dangerous West would not help

against invaders West Roman Catholic

Slavs and Bulgars attack from the North

Egypt and Syria fell too the Muslims

Constantinople was weakened by religious conflict

Leo III stops Muslims in 718 and 740

800’s Empire improves

867 – 1056 Macedonians ruled Called golden age Improved peasant

conditions Established a law

school Train officials in

government Rule in the Balkans

Incompetent Emperors

Constantinople had well trained and educated leaders

Restrained government and military

Used energy to make it a center of culture

Military saw encroaching danger

Strife between military and government

Vulnerable to outside attacks

Seljuk Turks 1071 defeat Byzantines in Asia Minor

1453 Ottoman Turks attack and defeat Constantinople

Renamed city Istanbul