BYZANTINE EMPIRE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE 306 AD he became the Roman Emperor Stopped the persecution of Christians Converted to Christianity himself after he wins the Battle of Milvian Bridge Christianity becomes the official religion of the empire EMPEROR CONSTANTINE (Continued) 330 AD moves the capital city from Rome to Byzantium Renames new capital Constantinople (Means city of Constantine) People living around Constantinople still called Byzantines THE ROMAN EMPIRE SPLITS After the death of Constantine, the Roman Emperors who followed him continued to rule from Constantinople Roman Empire splits in two Eastern half is based in Constantinople Called The Byzantine Empire Eastern half is more powerful Western half is based in Rome Western half is weak 476 AD Western half falls to the Barbarians Justinian (Reigns 527-565) Most significant Byzantine ruler 1) Military gains and huge expansion to rebuild original Roman Empire Gains in North Africa and Italy 2) Systemizes Roman legal code Influences future law codes in Europe Reduces legal confusion; united and organized the new empire 3) Projects to renovate Constantinople Hagia Sophia engineering and architectural achievements (dome) 4) Makes Greek language official Hagia Sophia Light Minarets Mosaics Byzantine Politics Rulers saw themselves as Roman emperors and as ordained by God; government was seen as continuation of Roman Empire Emperors were head of government and church Complex bureaucracy (open to all classes but aristocrats dominate). Bureaucracy helped to organize empire politically, socially, and economically. Provincial governors appointed Spy system created loyalty Troops recruited locally and given land for services Hereditary military leaders gain too much power Monomachus Byzantine Culture Creativity in Architecture (domed buildings) Richly colored religious mosaics in a distinct Byzantine style Flat, frontal, formal Icon paintings (paintings of saints and religious figures) Cultural life blended Hellenism and Orthodox Christianity Trade: silk production learned from China Monomachus, Christ, and Empress Zoe A RELIGIOUS DISPUTE The Catholic Church and the Pope in Rome were still very strong The Byzantine Emperor outlaws icons The Pope disagrees with this and banishes the Emperor from the church Byzantines felt the Pope was wrong to do this This argument leads to a schism in 1054 AD This results in two Christian ChurchesA RELIGIOUS DISPUTE (Continued) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH LEADER Pope in Rome Patriarch in Constantinople LANGUAGE Latin Greek ICONS ? Yes No (Until ban was lifted) Spread of Civilization in Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is influenced by Byzantine conquest, Christian missionaries and conversion efforts, and trade routes 9th c.: Byzantine Christian missionaries (Cyril and Methodius) helped bring Orthodoxy northward into Russia and the Balkans Create new alphabet: Cyrillic script Create literacy base in eastern Europe THE FALL OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE (Continued) 70,000 Turks surround the city of Constantinople Turks drag their ships over land and then launch them into the harbor Turks bring cannons to blast away the city walls Defending the city were only 7,000 Byzantines THE FALL OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE (Continued 2) Finally, in 1453 AD, after the defenders hold out for 2 months, Constantinople falls The Byzantine Empire is no more THE FALL OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE (Continued 3) The city is renamed Istanbul and to this day continues to be the capital city of the country of Turkey References www.cengage.com https://spehar.wikispaces.com www.slideshare.net