Transcript Byzantine Empire

The Fall of Rome
476 CE (AD)
The Byzantine Empire
Eastern Rome Carries On
Western
Roman
Empire
Eastern
Roman
Empire
Constantine (312-337)
Watch the video: What details did you learn about Constantine?
• Ruled the Roman Empire in the
west
• Declared freedom of religion
• No longer persecuted
Christians
• Christianity became official
religion of Rome
• Founder of Constantinople,
moved center of Roman Empire
to the EAST (Byzantine)
The Eastern Roman Empire
also known as “The Byzantine Empire”
• In 476 AD – only the western part of the
Roman Empire fell.
• The Eastern Roman Empire, better known
as the Byzantine Empire will last for about
1,000 more years.
• The Emperor Constantine started the
empire and developed the city of
Constantinople, known as Istanbul today.
Constantinople
• Once called Byzantium
• Renamed “City of Constantine,” in 330 AD,
became the capital of the later Roman and
Byzantine Empires
• Constantine- Roman Emperor 300s AD
– Became a Christian
– Stopped persecution of Christians
– Moved capital from Rome to Constantinople
Key Location for Trade
• Goods came into city from all directions
• Byzantines taxed all goods passing through city
• Became center of trade w/ rich diversity of people,
goods, and ideas
• Developed a strong military
• As Constantinople thrives; Western Rome Falls
– 476- last Roman Emperor thrown out
Germanic/Barbaric chief takes power
BYZANTINE COINS
TRADE IN
CONSTANTINOPLE
•
City built at major
crossroads of land and sea
trade routes
• Located at Bosporus Strait
o Linked 2 continents:
Europe and Asia
• Diverse people traded
goods and ideas
CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE
BOSPORUS STRAIT
Fall of Rome
1. Weak and Corrupt Rulers
a. Stole money from treasury, were successful generals not
politicians, gained the throne through violence
2. Empire too Big
a. difficult defending, enemies attacked, conquered territories
fought to gain back their independence
3. Economic Problems
a. raised taxes, unemployment, inflation
4. Mercenary Army
a. Foreign soldiers who fought for pay, motivated by money, not
loyal to Rome, could switch sides at any time
The Age of Justinian
• Great Byzantine Emperor; came from poor
family
• “Last Roman Emperor, First Byzantine
Emperor.”
• Ruled 527- 565 AD
– Energetic ruler
– Rarely gave up on tasks
– Listened to all subjects, wealthy or poor
Positive Results of Justinian’s Rule
• Byzantine Empire was using disorganized/old
Roman laws
– Some laws even contradicted others
• Justinian’s Code
- Organized collection & explanation of Roman
laws used by the Byzantine Empire
• Became the basis for modern Europe’s legal
system
• Byzantine Culture
– Blended Greek, Roman, & Christian influences
– Italy gained from Byzantine manuscripts and
knowledge
Nika Riots
Blues and Greens vs. Justinian can it
be that simple?
CAUSES:
-
-
-
Sports teams and their
supports were gang like
(hooligans in European
soccer)
Members of the blue and
green factions were arrested
for murder
Two of the accused escaped
and received sanctuary at a
near by church
January 13, 532
- Angry citizens attend the chariot races at the
Hippodrome
- The crowd starting yelling insults at Justinian
- Eventually the entire Hippodrome was chanting
“Nika! Nika! Nika!” which means conquer
- The crowds broke out of the Hippodrome and did a
full on assault of the palace!
RESULTS:
• Hagia Sophia and much of
Constantinople burned to the ground
• Senators who opposed Justinian’s
rule backed the rioters with money
and weapons
• Justinian almost fled without help
from his wife, Theodora
• One of Justinian’s advisors bribed
the Blues to leave the Hippodrome,
leaving the Greens to be slaughtered
by Justinian’s men (30,000 killed)
"Those who have
worn the crown
should never survive
its loss. Never will I
see the day when I
am not saluted as
empress.“
~ Empress
Theodora
What do
you think
this quote
means?
At the Bottom of your Notes please
Add:
• Empress Theodora (wife)
–Advised Justinian on major
decisions (not fleeing the Nika
Riots)
–Improved women’s rights and
laws protecting women
–Improved divorce laws
Hagia Sophia
Eastern Roman Empire after
Justinian
• From 395 – 1453, there will never be one
ruler controlling the Roman Empire again.
• Constant fighting between future
Emperors with the Persians, Turks, Arabs
and the Germanic Tribes.
• Empire started to weaken from within due
to political and religious disputes.
A Religious Dispute
• Most Byzantines were Christians
• Many Byzantine Christians did not think the
Pope should have authority over their church
• The pope, emperor, and patriarch often had
disagreements
• Engaged in power struggles
• Christianity was changing.
– Began splitting between East and West, just like the
Roman Empire.
• Language was different
– West (Rome) = Latin
– East (Constantinople) Greek
Religious Dispute Cont.
• Church stronger in the West (Pope) than the East
(Emperor/Patriarch)
• Spread of Islam has a great effect on the ERE
• Beliefs of Roman and Byzantine Christians grew apart
– Byzantine Emperor Leo III outlawed the use of Icons, has all
icons destroyed.
– Icons- paintings of saints and holy figures that Christians prayed
to
– The Pope excommunicated the Patriarch (Leo III) causing:
• The Schism- split in the Christian Church in 1054 that
created 2 forms of Christianity, The Roman Catholic
Church in the West and The Eastern Orthodox Church in
the East
A Second Golden Age
• 900-1000: Byzantines experienced a final period
of greatness
• Basil II- ruled at this time; greatest leader since
Justinian
• The “Bulgar Slayer”
• A warrior King
– Fought alongside soldiers
– Excellent military commander
• Trade was good, population increased, strong
period of creativity, Empire gained back some
lost territory
• Died in 1025, Empire went down ever since.
Basil the Bulgar-Slayer
• Bulgarians were biggest
enemies
• Eventually defeats them;
takes 15,000 captive
• Blinds 99/100 men
• Leaves 150 with 1 eye to
guide the others to their
leader
Basil the “Bulgar-Slayer
West
•
•
•
•
Roman Catholic
Latin
The Pope
Rome
East
•
•
•
•
Eastern Orthodox
Greek
The Patriarch/Emperor
Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople
• 1100- Turks had taken
Asia Minor
• 1171- Trade war w/
Venice
• 1200s- Christian
Crusaders attacked
and ran the city
• 1261- Byzantines took
control back
The Ottoman Turks
• Led by Mehmed IINickname is Mehmed
the Conqueror
– Ruled for 30 years
– Strengthened the navy
to gain control of the
Bosporus Strait
– The siege of
Constantinople took 2
months