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”
 Good harbor
 Controlled Bosporus
Strait
 Surrounded by water
except 1 side-built
strong walls
 Access to Black &
Mediterranean Seas
 Trading crossroads
between Europe &
Asia
Constantinople: “New Rome”
 Rulers in “East” saw
themselves as Roman
 1000 years after Rome
“fell” Constantinople
flourished
 Carried on Roman “glory”
 Center for:
 Law
 History
 Architecture
 Classical scholarship
Byzantine
 Modeled after Rome
 Built on 7 hills
 Buildings &
structures reflected
Roman influence
 Stronger tradition of
absolutism &
monotheism
Arches & Columns
Byzantine
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Bread & Circuses continued
Army followed Roman traditions
Class-based standards of punishment
Different dress for rich & poor
Some mobility in social hierarchy
Emperors & other officials chosen based on
merit not just hereditary social class
Byzantine
 bridge between ancient &
modern Europe
 Christianity, Roman customs, &
Greek classical culture all
survived, blended, & flourished
 preserved Greek literature &
philosophy
 Greek official language-required
for citizenship
 Preserved & codified Roman
legal traditions
Justinian
 527 -565 AD
 Not of noble birth
 Classical education-law,
music, architecture, theology
 Devout, stubborn
 Ambitious, military leader
 Wanted to regain lost Roman
territory
 Taxed heavily
Justinian “New Caesar”
 Regained
almost all old
Roman territory
 Political &
Religious
Leader
 Absolute Rule
 Chose people
based on
ability, not
wealth
 Appointed &
dismissed
bishops
Justinian
 Throne built for two
 Symbolized
Emperor’s
partnership w/ Jesus
 Military leader,
made laws, headed
government &
church, supreme
judge
Primary Source
 “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]
Justinian’s Contributions to Law &
Public Works
 Many construction
projects-churches,
bridges, roads,
monasteries, forums,
forts
 Most famous- Church
of Holy WisdomHagia Sophia
Life in Constantinople
 Mainly Christian but
Jews, Zoroastrians,
etc came for trade
 Based on Roman
traditions but over
time developed
distinctions
 Spoke Greek
 Wealthy
 Trade & commerce
flourished
Justinian’s Code
 Combined Greek &
Roman legal traditions
 Women could own landmaintained control of
children when widowed
 Punishments “fit the
crime”-less death penalty
 Inspired the word
“justice”
Justian’s Code
 Regulated marriage,
slavery, property,
inheritance, women’s
rights & criminal justice
 Served empire for 900
years
 Influenced European &
American law
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 was
huge dome set on top
of a rectangular base
 Very ornate, mosaics
Hippodrome
Theodora
 Advanced her friends,
destroyed her enemies
 Justinian changed marriage
laws to marry her
 Social welfare programs for
poor & homeless girls
 Expanded women’s rightsconvinced Justinian that
women should own land
 Helped save the empire
during the Nika Revolt of
AD 532
“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…
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And the Empress Theodora also spoke to the following effect: "My
opinion then is that the present time, above all others, 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]
Theodora
 Justinian’s wife
 Remarkable,
adventurous,
influential, wise,
political
 Born into lower
classes
 Father was bearkeeper for circus
 Dancer/actress
“Greek Fire”
 Developed by Navy
 Chemical mix-ignited
when it came into
contact with fire
 Secret weapon-exact
mixture still unknown
 Similar to Napalm
Problems in The Empire
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Justinian died
Street riots
Religious quarrels
Palace intrigues
Foreign dangers
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