Transcript Byzantine Empire - Arlington Public Schools

Byzantine Empire
History of Constantinople
 Byzantium
 Rome divided
 Founded by
Constantine, in
330 AD
 Divine order or
strategic
location?
 Rome declined,
then collapsed
 Constantinople
took its place
Geography of Constantinople
 “Golden Horn”
 Harbor
 Controlled
Bosporus Strait
 Surrounded by
water
 Access to Black &
Mediterranean Seas
 Trading crossroads
between Europe &
Asia
Why was Constantinople called
“New Rome”
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Rulers in the
“East” saw
themselves as
Roman
1000 years after
Rome “fell”
Constantinople
flourished
Carried on the
“glory of Rome”
Center for:
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Law
History
Architecture
Classical
scholarship
How did Constantinople compare
with Rome?
 Byzantine culture
influenced by Rome
 Modeled after Rome
 Built on seven hills
 Buildings/structures
reflected Roman
influence
 Stronger tradition of
absolutism &
monotheism
Arches and Columns
Constantinople vs. Rome
 Retained but relaxed many Roman rules &
customs
 Bread & Circuses continued
 Army followed Roman traditions
 Class-based standards of punishment
 Different dress for rich & poor
 Some mobility in social hierarchy
 Emperors chose officials based on merit not
hereditary social class
 Byzantine Senate not as rigid & powerful as
Rome
Constantinople vs. Rome
 bridge between ancient &
modern Europe
 Christianity, Roman
customs, Greek classical
culture survived,
blended, flourished
 preserved Greek
literature & philosophy
 Greek official languagerequired for citizenship
 Preserved & codified
Roman legal traditions
Who was Justinian?
 527 -565 AD
 High-ranking
nobleman
 Classical educationlaw, music,
architecture,
theology
 Devout, stubborn
 Ambitious, military
leader
 Wanted to regain lost
Roman territory
 Imposed heavy taxes
Justinian: “New Caesar?
 Regained
Roman territory
 Absolute Rule
 Head of State &
Church
 Appointed/
dismissed
bishops
Justinian
 Throne built for
two
 Symbolized the
Emperor’s
partnership with
Jesus
 Leader of all
military, made
laws, headed
the government
& church
 Supreme judge
“Secret History”
 “For he was … villainous
and … a moron. He was
never truthful … easily
hoodwinked by any who
wanted to deceive him.
His nature was an
unnatural mixture of
folly and wickedness.”
 Procopius
[c.490/510c.560s]
Theodora
 Justinian’s wife
 Remarkable,
adventurous,
influential, wise,
political
 Born into lower
classes
 Father was bearkeeper for circus
 Dancer & actress
Theodora
 Advanced her friends,
destroyed her enemies
 Justinian changed
marriage laws to marry
her
 Social welfare programs
for poor & homeless girls
 Expanded women’s
rights-convinced
Justinian that women
should own land
 Helped save the empire
during the Nika Revolt of
AD 532
What were Justinian’s Contributions
to Law and Public Works?
 Bridges, roads,
aqueducts
 Monasteries, forums
 Forts
 Hospitals
 Churches-Hagia
Sophia-Church of
Holy Wisdom
Life in “New Rome”
 Christian
 Roman
traditions but
unique
 Spoke Greek
not Latin
 Wealthy
 Trade
flourished
Justinian’s Code
 Reformed old Roman Law
 Four Parts:
 The Code- Roman Laws that were still
useful
 The Digest- quoted and summarized
opinions of Rome’s greatest legal
thinkers
 The Institutes- textbook that instructed
students on how to use the law
 The Novellae- New laws after 534 AD
Justinian’s Code
 Combined Greek
& Roman Legal
traditions
 Took six years
 Inspired the
word “justice”
Justian’s Code
 Regulated:
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marriage
slavery
property
inheritance
women’s rights
criminal justice
 Served empire
for 900 years
 Influenced
European &
American law
Justinian’s Code American Laws
Women’s Rights
Robbery
Failure to
Pay Debts
Murder
Inheritance
The Imperial Capital
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Rebuilt
fortifications
14-mile stone
wall along the
coastline
Many Churches
Enlarged
palace
Baths
Aqueducts
Law courts
Schools
Hospitals
Preservation of Greco-Roman
Culture
Classical learning
Greek
Latin
Philosophy
Literature - Homer
Euclid - geometry
Herodotus –
history
 Galen - medicine
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Hagia Sophia: Then
Hagia Sophia: Now
Hagia Sophia
 Over 12,000
workers to
complete
 Major feature:
huge dome set
on rectangular
base
 Very ornate,
mosaics
Hippodrome
What was the “Nika” Rebellion
 Horse racing
fans sparked
citywide riots
against
government
 Justinian’s
troops
slaughtered
30,000 rebels
in Hippodrome
 Justinian
wanted to flee,
Theodora said…
Theodora said…

“It is inopportune for flight, even though it bring safety. . . . For
one who has been an emperor it is unendurable to be a fugitive.
May I never be separated from this purple, and may I not live that
day on which those who meet me shall not address me as
mistress. If, now, it is your wish to save yourself, O Emperor,
there is no difficulty. For we have much money, and there is the
sea, here the boats. However consider whether it will not come
about after you have been saved that you would gladly exchange
that safety for death. For as for myself, I approve a certain ancient
saying that royalty is a good burial-shroud." When the queen had
spoken thus, all were filled with boldness, and, turning their
thoughts towards resistance, they began to consider how they
might be able to defend themselves if any hostile force should
come against them. . .

Procopius [c.490/510-c.560s]
Problems in The Empire
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Justinian died
Street riots
Religious quarrels
Palace intrigues
Foreign dangers/Attacks from both
East and West
The Plague
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Probably came from India via ships
Worst year was 542
10,000 people a day died
Re-emerged periodically
How did Byzantines Hold On to
Power for so long?
 Used bribes,
diplomacy,
political
marriages
 Empire
reorganized along
military lines
What was “Greek Fire”
 Developed by Navy
 Chemical mix-ignited
when it came into
contact with fire
 Secret weapon-exact
mixture still
unknown
 Similar to Napalm
Fall of Byzantines
 Gradual loss
of territory
 Fell to
Ottoman
Turks in 1453
Religious Split (Schism)
Roman Catholic
Similarities
Eastern Orthodox
•Service in Latin
•Papal authority over
bishops kings,
emperors
•Priests celibate
•No divorce
•Faith based on
gospel of Jesus &
Bible
•Sacraments like
baptism
•Priests & bishops
•Universal Religion:
Seek converts
•Service in Greek
•Patriarch & other
bishops head of
Church as a group
•Emperor claims
authority
•Priests may marry
•Divorce allowed
West and East officially split in 1054 when Pope and Patriarch
excommunicated each other
Icon Controversy: 730 CE
 Use of icons as
aid to devotions
banned-viewed as
idolatry
 West Pope
supported use of
icons
 Restored 100
years later
Byzantine Missionaries
 Competition for
converts
 Eastern orthodox
converted Slavs
 Invented Cyrillic
script so Slavs could
read Bible
 Russian & other
Slavic languages