Empress Theodora• What in Theodora’s background made it unlikely that

she would be an empress?• How was the job of acting different than what it is now?• Who benefited from the laws that Theodora passed?• What are four words that would describe the

relationship that Theodora had with her husband?• How could you compare Theodora with 1st Lady Laura

Bush?• Who would be considered more powerful, Theodora or

the Queen of England?

Byzantine Artwork

The Byzantines had a form of art work that was borrowed from the Greeks and Romans, the Mosaic.

However, they took this art form to a new level by incorporating pieces of glass and stones in very intricate designs and murals

Similar to the Greeks, most of these told a specific story.

Byzantine Architecture

• The Byzantine architecture was very technologically advanced.

• It was used most noticeably for building public buildings and places of worship for the rapidly growing Christian faith.

• A great example of this architecture is the Hagia Sophia

Byzantine Women

• As a whole, Byzantine women had more freedoms than other women in the world at the time.

• Thanks to Empress Theodora, Byzantine women were involved in politics and were able to own land.

• This was a major step up from the way things had been.

Religion in the Byzantine Empire• Church and government were very closely linked

in the Byzantine empire.• The emperor was thought to be God’s

representative on earth.• As opposed to today, the government and religion

were very closely linked.• Rome and Constantinople spilt their churches (in

the 11th Century) over several different beliefs. • One of the belief was the use of icons. This

became known as the iconoclastic controversy.

Two Churches/ One God• ROMAN CATHOLIC• Pope is the head of the

church• Pope claims power through

St. Peter• Headquarters are in Rome• Grown very rapidly over

the years and become very powerful.

• EASTERN ORTHODOX• Emporer functioned as

head of this church.• Patriarch of Constantinople

is now head of the church• Headquarters began in

Constantinople, but is now spread throughout the world.

• In recent years has declined in power mainly because of the growth of Communism.