The Byzantine Empire

World HistorySOL WHI.7a,b,c,d,e

Essential Questions Why was Constantinople established

as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire?

What was the influence of Justinian’s codification of Roman law on the Byzantine Empire and later legal codes?

What was Justinian’s influence on the expansion of the Byzantine Empire and its economy?

Essential Questions What were the contributions of

Byzantine art and architecture? How did Greek and Roman culture

survive within the Byzantine Empire? What factors produced the division

within the Christian church? Why did the Byzantine Empire have so

much influence on religion, culture, and trade in Russia and Eastern Europe?

Constantinople

Constantinople was built by the Roman emperor Constantine and finished in 330 ce.

When the Western Roman Empire was overran by barbarians it became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, which became known as the Byzantine Empire.

Map showing Western and Eastern Roman Empire

Constantinople This city was important for several

reasons:1. It could easily protect the eastern frontiers

of the empire such as the Middle East and Eastern Europe

2. It was farther away from the Germanic invasions that destroyed the western empire

3. It was located at a crossroads of trade between the Black Sea and Mediterranean and between Europe and Asia

Constantinople

5. It was an easily fortified site on a peninsula with natural harbors.

Map showing barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire

Map that shows the location of Constantinople on aneasily fortified peninsula with natural harbors

Map showing barbarian migrations into Western andSouthern Europe.

Role of Constantinople

Seat of the Byzantine Empire until the Ottoman conquest

Preserved classical Greco Roman culture

Preservation of Culture

Byzantine Emperors saw themselves as Roman Emperors. Latin was the official language of the court until it was replaced by Greek.

The knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome was saved in libraries and studied by scholars.

The culture of Greece and Rome, such as chariot racing, architecture, and artistic styles influenced Byzantine culture.

Justinian (The Good) Justinian ruled from 527 - 565.1. He expanded the empire by adding

territories from the former Western Empire that had been overrun by barbarians

2. He expanded trade 3. He ordered that the laws of ancient Rome

be collected, revised, and organized. The result was Justinian’s Code.

4. He ordered that a massive Christian Church, the Hagia Sophia, be built.

Justinian’s Code

The law code of Justinian influenced the laws of Western Europe. By 1100 the Catholic Church and medieval monarchs modeled their laws after Justinian’s Code.

The Code also guided legal thinkers who began to put together international law that is used today.

Map showing the territories added by Justinian. Mostof them were lost within 100 years after his death.

The Hagia Sophia was a Christian Church built bythe Emperor Justinian in Constantinople.

Justinian (The Bad)

Justinian’s policies of expansion and support of the Christian Church led to several negative results.

1. He expanded the empire but he had to raise taxes and the military expeditions strained the army. After his death most of the territory was lost.

2. He had to raise taxes again to build the Hagia Sophia, which resulted in riots and he was almost deposed.

Byzantine Art and Architecture

Byzantine art was inspired by Christianity. Most Byzantine art, such as icons, mosaics,

or statues focused on religious imagery and incorporated elements of imperial power.

Icons are religious pictures that hang in churches. Icons usually have pictures of God, Jesus, or saints.

Byzantine artists also produced mosaics, which are pictures made from colored tiles. Mosaics decorated churches and public places.

Byzantine icon ofJesus Christ.

Byzantine mosaic ofJesus Christ.

Byzantine mosaic showing Emperor Justinian andclerics and soldiers.

Christianity

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire the Christian Church became divided over several issues.

The Christian Church in the East (Orthodox Christianity) was led by the Patriarch in Constantinople who was under the authority of the Emperor.

The Orthodox Church used Greek in the liturgy and allowed priests to marry.

The Orthodox Church used icons.

Christianity

The church in the west was headed by the Pope who was elected for life and did not answer to an emperor.

The Catholic Church enforced celibacy for priests.

The Catholic Church used Latin in the liturgy even after it ceased to be a language spoken by most people.

The churches also argued over issues such as the nature of the Trinity and communion.

Eastern Europe and Russia The Byzantines heavily influenced Eastern

Europe and Russia.1. Monks and priests spread Orthodox

Christianity into Eastern Europe.2. Small kingdoms in Eastern Europe and

Russia emulated Byzantium by adopting their styles of church architecture and using icons.

3. A monk, St. Cyril, made an alphabet for Slavic languages based on the Greek alphabet.

Map showing theroutes taken bythe Vikings. Noticehow the Swedestraveled from theBaltic to the BlackSeas through riversin Russia. Theyeventually had contactand traded with theByzantines. Tradefurther spreadByzantine culture toRussia.