Transcript Byzantine Empire

After the Roman Empire was divided
in 395 AD,the Eastern half became
known as the
which would last for 1000 years!
I. Constantinople: A Strategic City
A. Roman Emperor Constantine built
Constantinople (Byzantine capital) at a
strategic place where Europe and Asia meet
B. Natural protection from attack (Rome was
being attacked by Germanic invaders)
1. Water on 3 sides (also good for trade)
2. Thick walls on side with land
II. Strength of the Empire
A. Emperors had absolute power
1. Rome had Senate (which meant
conflicts over power)
B. Continuation of the Roman Empire
1. Preserved Greek heritage
2. Rome “jocked” Greece.
Constantinople “jocked” Rome.
3. Christianity, Roman customs, & Greek
classical culture all survived, blended, &
flourished in the Empire
III. THE GREAT SCHISM = the
religious separation between the East
(Byzantine Empire) and the West
(Roman Empire)
Byzantine Empire
Emperor = head of the
church (didn’t recognize
the pope)
Masses conducted in
Greek, the language of
the eastern people
Clergy could marry
Emperor banned use of
icons (religious images)
Western Europe
Pope = supreme religious
authority above any political
ruler
Masses conducted in Latin
All clergy were celibate
Pope believed icons were to be
respected
Became Eastern Orthodox Became Roman Catholic
Church in 1054
Church in 1054 (catholic is
(orthodox is Greek for
Latin for “universal”)
“correct belief”)
IV. Justinian (Emperor in 527 at height of empire)
A. Justinian’s Code
1. ordered 10 scholars to collect & organize
the best roman laws
2. Preserved Roman legal heritage
3. Became the chief source of law in
EasternEurope
B. Wanted to restore Roman Empire
1. Gained back Italy, N. Africa, & Spain that
had fallen to Germanic invaders
2. Extended Byzantine rule in the West
C. Achievements
1. Constructed new roads, bridges, fortresses,
law libraries, public baths, monasteries, etc.
2. Constructed Hagia Sophia Church
(“Holy Wisdom”)
a. the largest & most
beautiful church in the
Empire = still stands today
as a museum
b. Intricate on outside, Plain
on inside
D. Wife = Theodora
1. Court objected marriage
because she was a dancer &
actress (professions held in
low esteem)
2. Was a remarkable & influential
woman who equaled and
sometimes surpassed her
husband in political skills &
wisdom
V. Decline of the Empire
A. It was weakened over civil wars about who
would inherit the throne
B. Due to its weakness, it could not withstand
invaders & was eventually conquered by the
Islamic Ottoman Turks in 1453
a. Hagia Sophia
became a
mosque