The Byzantine Empire

Outline of the Roman Empire

After conquering Etruscans: From around 300

BCE, Rome began to grow in political

importance.

Within 300 Years it had unified the whole

Mediterranean into one empire.

Intellectually, Rome was dominated by Greece,

but its genius was in statecraft and law.

Will go from Republic – to Empire – to 2

Empires – then will Fall @ 476 C.E.

The half of the Roman Empire that survived

Byzantine Empire

Terms/People to know for Quiz

Constantine

Constantinople

New Rome

Justinian

Theodora

Justinian’s Code

Justinian’s

Plague

Hagia Sophia

The Byzantine Empire was the eastern half of the old Roman Empire.

Long after Rome fell (476 A.D.) under the Germanic invaders, Byzantium continued in Constantinople.

Byzantine, Russian, and Turkish cultures develop, while Christian and Islamic societies fight over religious issues and territory.

The Byzantine Empire lasted over 1000 years, from the 400s until the Empire’s fall to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

One outstanding emperor was

Justinian and he ruled from 527–

565 A.D..

His reign saw great Byzantine

expansion across North Africa,

Sicily, Italy, and even southern

Spain.

He wanted to restore the empire

to its former Roman glory.

His reign was one of the last that

still used Latin as the official royal

language.

Greek became the new language.

New Laws for the Empire

Justinian seeks to revise and update laws for governing the empire

Justinian Code—new set of laws consisting of four main parts

Code regulates much of Byzantine life; lasts for 900 years

Creating the Imperial Capital

Justinian launches program to beautify capital, Constantinople

Byzantines preserve Greco-Roman culture and learning

Constructs new buildings; builds magnificent church, Hagia Sophia

Justinian oversaw the construction of a great church in the city that would to be the shining example of Byzantine architecture.

Built the Church of the Hagia Sophia.

(Hagia Sophia translates from the Greek as Holy Wisdom.)

(The building measures 250 feet by 235 feet and features a great dome measuring 107 feet across and peaking at a height of 185 feet.

The building took five years to complete with 10,000 men working on it. Inside, the great church was adorned with marble, elaborate columns, intricate mosaics, and gold.)

Mosaic depicting Justinian (left) presenting model of church of Hagia Sophia to

the Virgin Mary. Constantine to the right presents her with a model of

Constantinople

Constantinople’s Hectic Pace

City becomes trading hub with major marketplace

Giant Hippodrome offers chariot races and other entertainment

Racing fans start riots in 532; government restores order violently

Empress Theodora—powerful wife and adviser to Justinian

Years of Turmoil

Justinian dies in 565; empire faces many crises after his death

The Plague of Justinian

Bubonic plague repeatedly sweeps empire; kills many residents

Attacks from East and West

Byzantium faces attacks from many different groups

Empire survives through bribery, diplomacy, and military power

Constantinople falls in 1453; brings an end to Byzantine Empire

A Religious Split

Christianity develops differently in Eastern and Western Roman Empires

Two churches disagree over many issues, including use of icons

Icons are religious images used to aid in prayer

Leading bishop of Eastern Christianity known as patriarch

In the West, pope excommunicated emperor— banished him from the Church

A Religious Split

Pope and patriarch excommunicate each other over religious

doctrines

Eastern and Western churches officially split in 1054

West—Roman Catholic Church; East—Orthodox Church

Byzantine Missionaries Convert the Slavs

Eastern Orthodox missionaries seek to convert northern peoples,

Slavs

Missionaries create Cyrillic alphabet—basis of many Slavic

languages

Alphabet enables many groups to read the Bible

Group Poster Project

Using yesterday’s handout “Theodora, woman of will”

and today’s handout “The Empress Irene”, create a T-

Chart or a Venn Diagram comparing/contrasting the

two rulers.

Posters should have a title, the graphic organizer, and

your names on the back. Theodora

Theodora

Irene

Irene