Transcript FromRomeToByzantium

From Rome to
Byzantium
Exploring the transformation of
the Roman Empire
Decline of the Roman Empire
Cause
Effect
Migrations and invasions of Rome’s army is spread
neighboring groups lead to too thin to easily defend
border conflicts.
its large border.
Maintaining a large,
successful empire is
expensive.
The character of the
Romans themselves has
changed as more nonnatives become citizens.
There are no more
people to conquer for
resources and slaves.
There is a decline in the
spirit of the Romans as
they tend to care more
about personal interests.
Emperor Constantine
(287-337 CE)
Chi-Rho Sign
•He began to support Christianity after his
victory at the Milvian Bridge.
•This led to Christianity becoming the official
religion of the empire.
•He moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium,
which he renamed Constantinople.
Arch of Constantine in Rome
•Constantinople was located in the eastern
part of the empire, which was safer
and closer to the “action”.
Why Byzantium?
•Centrally located in the
eastern empire
•Safer from the attacks
occurring in the west
•Located at the hub of several
important trade routes
•Wealthy due to its location
•Peninsula is easier to defend
Art Connections: When the capital of the Roman empire was moved to Byzantium
(Constantinople), the people of the Byzantine empire still considered themselves
Romans. Notice how some Roman art is similar to Byzantine Christian art.
Roman sculpture of Orpheus as a Good Shepherd
Byzantine icon of Jesus as the Good Shepherd
Can you guess what this Byzantine relief
sculpture is trying to show?
Fall of the City of Rome
•Fell in 476 CE
•Sacked by Theodoric the Goth
•Last emperor was Augustulus
•Western Empire collapses
•Ends the dominance of the city of Rome
•Empire shrinks and power fully shifts to
Constantinople in the east
Emperor Justinian
Justinian (482-565 CE)
•Used his army to expand the Byzantine empire
to nearly the size of the original Roman one
•Established a code of laws called the Justinian Code
•Developed a strong economy based on the
beneficial location of Constantinople
•Empress Theodora supported laws that were more
fair to women and people of varying social classes
Emperor Justinian and Empress
Theodora, who began their
reign in 527 CE
The red writing at the bottom of
this scroll indicates that it is an
official decree from the emperor.
The Greek writing on this scroll
was more widely used than Latin.
Signs of
Byzantine
Wealth
Silk Fabric
Silver Spoons
Gold and
enamel
devotional
pendant
Gold sealing
on parchment
Mosaics: Used to decorate wealthy homes during Roman times, mosaics were
a complicated art form perfected by the Byzantines. Small pieces (tesserae) of
colored stone, marble, gems, and glass were arranged to create pictures.
Depending on the size of the
pieces used, a mosaicist could cover up
to fifteen feet of wall a day.
Mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Jesus
Mosaic of Empress Theodora
Christianity in the
Byzantine Empire
•Justinian and Theodora were both Christians.
•They disagreed about certain religious ways.
•People who followed other forms of Christianity
were protected.
•Five hundred years later, the Christian church split
over the issue of icons.
Stole for a priest
Church items, such as lamps and crosses
Icons
•Holy pictures of Jesus and the saints
•Used by people during prayer
•Some Christians considered this idol worship.
•Others felt icons were a good way to educate
people who could not read.
Icon of
St. George
Icon of the Church Fathers
Byzantine
Legacy
•The Byzantine Empire lasted
until 1453 when conquered
by the Ottoman Turks.
•The Byzantines preserved
elements of the Roman world.
•As a Christian empire, they
spread Christianity throughout
the region.
•Justinian’s Code influenced
future European governments.
•Remaining churches are still
used today or have been
converted into Muslim
mosques.
Icon of a Byzantine cross