Definition

• Byzantine: this term is a modern invention. The Byzantines called themselves either ‘Romans’ or ‘Greeks’. Invented by the classical scholar Hieronymus Wolf and popularized by Montesquieu (1700s)

• It was used for the medieval Greek-speaking, Christian empire that dominated the eastern Mediterranean.

• The ancient Greek city of Byzantium was founded in 667 BC by king Byzas.

• In antiquity, because of its strategic location, it was an important center for the transport of corn to Attica.

Bosporus

Restored walls of Constantinople

Justinian Ir. 527-565

TheodoraEmpress Theodora served asone of the closest advisers to

her husband, Emperor Justinian.Though her enemies

deplored her humble originsand her Monophysite beliefs,

she won the loyalty of ordinarysubjects, many of

whom shared her religioustendencies and received her

protection. In hindsight,Byzantine observers believedshe had exerted a moderating

influence over Justinian,who, after her death in

548, grew increasingly intolerantof religious doctrinedeemed heretical. (

Hagia Sophia built between 532-537

Interior of Hagia Sophia

Heraclius Ir. 614-641

the first Greek speaking Emperor

Byzantine Empire by 626 A.D under Heraclius, Striped areas are lands

threatened by the Sassanids

Leo III, Leo The Isaurian

Byzantine emperor (717–741), who founded

the Isaurian, or Syrian, dynasty, successfully

resisted Arab invasions, and engendered a century of

conflict within the empire by banning the use of religious images.

Invented in the seventh century by Callimachus, a Syrian engineer, Greek fire was a mixture

formed from petroleum, sulfur, saltpeter, and lime that ignited on contact with water.

Byzantine and Sassanid Empires, c. 600

BASIL II (976-1025)

• The legendary, most glorious emperor of Byzantium.

• Suppressed revolt of Vardas Skeleros after an alliance with Vladimir I of Kiev.

• With notorious ruthlessness he suppressed the power of the great landowners and protected the middle classes.

Byzantium

• During the 9th and 10th centuries, the power of the Abbasid caliphate went into a decline– However, they were still a threat to the Byzantine state

• Another threat came from the north in the form of the Viking (Rus) invaders– They had strong trade connections with the Abbasids

• Byzantine Revival– St. Cyril and St. Methodius convert Balkan Slavs to

Orthodox Christianity – A new written language

• Old Church Slavonic (Cyrillic alphabet) – Annexation of Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia

Byzantium• Byzantium was also involved in a number of key conquests

– Eastern conquests against the Abbasids in the 930s and 970s• Military and commercial alliance with the western Russia• There were still a number of key threats to Byzantium

– Venice, Pisa and Genoa emerge as dominant traders in the eastern Mediterranean

– Growing power of Fatimid Egypt • The biggest threat was from the Seljuk Turks

– A Sunni Muslim group that moved into Anatolia– Defeated imperial forces at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071– The Turks were now threatening the existence of Byzantium

The Byzantine Empire at the accession of Alexios I Komnenos, in 1081

The Byzantine Empire in 1081

Latins capture Constantinople, 1204

The Migrations of the Slavs. Originally from east-central Europe, the Slavic people broke into three groups. The western Slavs converted to Catholic Christianity, while the eastern Slavs and southern Slavs, under the influence of the Byzantine Empire, embraced

the Eastern Orthodox faith.

The Topography of Russia

Kievan Rus, ca. 900

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE

First ruler = RURIK (862-879)

• Centered around Novgorod – on major trade route

Trade Route: “From the Varangians to the Greeks”

THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE

First ruler = RURIK (862-879)

• Centered around Novgorod – on major trade route

OLEG = regent until 912

• Expanded south & east

• Occupied Kiev & built it up as cultural & economic center

THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

THE RURIKID DYNASTY

IGOR (r. 913-945)

• Continued expansion

• Strengthened state

OLGA (Regent, 945-962)

• Reformed administration

• Converted to Christianity, 955

SVIATOSLAV (r. 962-972)

• Continued expansion

• Overthrew Khazar Khanate

• Killed by Pechenegs, 972

THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

THE RURIKID DYNASTY

VLADIMIR (r. 980-1015)

• Converted Kievan state to Christianity

• EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT EVENT:

brought Russia into Christian world

closer ties with Greek/Byzantine world

set Russia apart from West

introduction of written language: Church Slavonic

THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

THE RURIKID DYNASTY

Civil war, 1015

SVIATOPOLK THE DAMNED

• Killed brothers Boris & Gleb

IAROSLAV

• Defeated Sviatopolk, 1019

• Split realm with MSTISLAV

• Became Grand Prince, 1036

THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’

THE RURIKID DYNASTY

IAROSLAV THE WISE (1036-1054)

• High point of Kievan culture & society

• Promulgated PRAVDA RUSSKAIA

• Defeated external enemies

THE FIRST RUSSIAN STATE: KIEV RUS’