life in byzantium

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Life in Byzantium Chapter 9 (2 of 4)

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Life in Byzantium. Chapter 9 (2 of 4). Byzantine Military. Like Romans, Byzantines recruited local soldiers, and rewarded them with land. Overall, military successful in stopping invaders from getting into Europe until the 1400s. Byzantine Politics. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Life in Byzantium

Life in Byzantium

Chapter 9 (2 of 4)

Page 2: Life in Byzantium

Byzantine Military

Like Romans, Byzantines

recruited local soldiers, and

rewarded them with land

Overall, military

successful in stopping

invaders from getting into Europe until

the 1400s

Page 3: Life in Byzantium

Byzantine Politics

Byzantines had one of largest

bureaucracies ever

Emperor was the head of the church

and the state

Women had considerable

influence (example Empress Theodora)

Similar political system to earlier

Chinese dynasties

Page 4: Life in Byzantium

The Byzantine Bureaucracy• Emperor chose regional

governors to help rule (had spies to ensure loyalty)

• Bureaucrats were highly educated in Greek classics

• Came from all social classes (mostly aristocrats, but talented poor people could rise)

• This bureaucracy was longest-lived single government ever in the Mediterranean

Page 5: Life in Byzantium

Government in Control

The bureaucracy (government) was

very much in control (regulated

trade and food prices)

Unfortunately, this hurt the many

peasant farmers, who saw prices for

crops drop and taxes rise

Government kept food prices low so

the poor in Constantinople and other cities would not get upset and riot

Page 6: Life in Byzantium

The Silk Road

Constantinople grew b/c along Silk Road

Byzantines smuggled in silkworm cocoons and

soon made own silk

Constantinople

Page 7: Life in Byzantium

Byzantines traded extensively

Traded w/western Europe, Africa, Asia

Also had north-south trade with Scandinavia and

Russia

Page 8: Life in Byzantium

Culture – It’s All Greek To Me

Secular Byzantine culture (that means culture away from the

church) based on Greek culture

This Greek (or Hellenistic) culture was blended with Eastern Orthodox

religious culture

Not a lot of cultural innovation, mostly preserved Greek culture

Page 9: Life in Byzantium

Social Gap

Empire large and diverse, which

led to wide gaps in social classes

Church patriarch (leader) burnt biography of a

saint b/c written by a peasant

Page 10: Life in Byzantium

Icon Painting• Byzantine were

big on icons

• Icon – artistic representations of religious figures

Page 11: Life in Byzantium

Icon Painting• Mulsims criticized

Byzantines as icon worshippers

• Emperor wanted to prove not true, and tried removing all icons

• Big backlash from Church over this censorship, and emperor let icons stay

Page 12: Life in Byzantium

Split Growing Between East and West Europe

Western Europe = Catholic

Eastern Europe = Orthodox

Page 13: Life in Byzantium

Byzantines Dislike Pope’s Influence

Byzantine (east)

emperors were in

charge of the church

Didn’t want to lose

power to the Pope;

Byzantine rulers

recognized the Pope, but still

controlled church

Page 14: Life in Byzantium

Schism Happens (1054)

See reading from class for more details

Pope in Italy (West) sends Cardinal

Humbert to Constantinople (East)

and an argument ensues which results

in the official split between the

churches

Western Europe = Catholic

Eastern Europe = Eastern Orthodox

At the time of the schism (or split),

eastern Europe was more advanced than western Europe, but

the West soon surpassed the East

Page 15: Life in Byzantium

The Great Schism of 1054– Eastern Greek Orthodox

Church• Based in Constantinople• Official language – Greek• Church led by a Patriarch

referred to as a Bishop• Bishops couldn’t marry.• Priests could marry.• Scriptures were the final

authority on all matters.• Emperor or political ruler

was above the Bishop.

– Roman Catholic Church• Based in Rome• Official language – Latin• Church led by a Pope

referred to as Father.• Church leaders could not

marry.• Only Pope and Bishops

could interpret the scriptures.

• The Pope was the Supreme head of Church - above any political ruler.

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