unit 2: the post-classical age, 600-1450 part i – end of the old, beginning of the new
TRANSCRIPT
New Political SceneryUnit 2: The Post-Classical Age, 600-
1450Part I – End of the Old, Beginning of the New
A Shift in PowerNew nations rose after the fall of old empires
Byzantine in Eastern Europe
Sassinaid in Persia
Jin in China
The Byzantine Commonwealth
Theme SystemEach province (theme) was under the
control of a general responsible for both military defense & civil
administration.
Generals recruited armies from free peasants land in exchange for military service
Based on land and service both very Middle Age concepts almost like feudalism and yet maintained some concepts of paterfamilias
Superpower of the Dark AgesProtected location on Bosporus Straits
Greek fire & heavy cavalry (the cataphracts)
the use of subsidies to play its enemies against one another
Caesaropapism - domination of imperial rule over Christianity in the Byzantine empireEmperors played an active and prominent role
in ecclesiastical affairs.The role of the emperor evolved as secular begins to
superceed sacred
CultureConstantinople controlled the economy and
grew to an enormous size but other cities were relatively smallMostly because the major exports were of an
industrial nature such as luxury products, silk, cloth and carpets
CultureMostly GreekDomed buildings adapted from the Roman style
of architectureRichly colored mosaicsPainted Icons
Justinian & Theodorarecovered provinces that had been previously
overrun by invaders.The Byzantine empire reached its greatest size under Justinian.
launched a program to beautify Constantinople. church of Hagia Sophia improved on earlier Roman buildings.
reformed the law. Justinian’s Code was a model for medieval monarchs, the
Roman Catholic Church, and later legal thinkers.
used the law to unite the empire under his control Justinian ruled as an autocrat, or sole ruler with complete
authority. He also had power over the Church. (caesarpapism)
Emperor Justinian [r. 527-564]
Emperor Justinian [r. 527-564]
Empress TheodoraEmpress Theodora
Justinian’s Empire at its Peak
Justinian’s Empire at its Peak
Christianity in East and WestByzantine Christianity – Orthodox Church
Western European Christianity – Roman Catholic Church
•Byzantine emperor controlled Church affairs (caesarpapism)
•People rejected pope’s claim to authority over all Christians
•Clergy kept right to marry
•Greek was language of the Church
•Easter was main holy day
•Emperor outlawed the use of icons, or holy images
•Pope controlled Church affairs
•People accepted pope’s claim to authority over all Christians
•Clergy prohibited from marrying
•Latin was language of the Church
•Christmas was main holy day
•Use of holy images permitted.
1054 – Differences between east and west provoked a schism, or permanent split, between the Eastern (Greek) Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church
Sassanids of Persia
Jin in China