Transcript Founding of the Byzantine Empire

Lesson 10-1
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• TN SPI
– 6.5.7 Recognize major historical time periods
(Middle Ages of Medieval Period)
– 6.6.2 Recognize the impact of individuals on
world history (Constantine)
– 6.3.3 Identify the location of early civilizations on
a map
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Constantine
• Beginning with the rule of Constantine, two
important changes affected the Roman
Empire:
– Constantine became a Christian and stopped the
persecution of Christians.
– Christianity became the official religion of the
empire in 395 A.D.
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The Fall of Rome and the End of
Ancient Civilizations
• Several things contributed to the Fall of
Rome:
1. Weak, Corrupt Leaders
2. Mercenary Army
3. Size of the Empire
4. Economic Problems (Inflation)
5. Invasions
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Middle Ages or Medieval Period
• All the empires we have
studied to this point have
been referred to as
ancient civilizations.
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Mesopotamia
Fertile Crescent
Egypt
India
China
Greece
Rome
• Ancient history is the
study of the written past
from the beginning of
recorded human history
until the Early Middle
Ages in Europe.
• The Middle Ages or
Medieval Period began
with the fall of the Roman
Empire in 476 A.D. and
lasts to about 1500.
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Split of the Roman Empire
• Diocletian splits the empire into West and East.
• Western Empire was reclaimed and small
kingdoms were formed
• Christianity explodes across the region.
• The Eastern Empire remained prosperous, and
formed the foundation of a new empire called
the Byzantine Empire.
• A strong army, good government, and a rich
economy helped give the empire a long life.
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Geography
• The Emperor Constantine
moved the capital to
Byzantium; later renamed
Constantinople located
on a strait called the
Bosporus.
• The Bosporus Strait
connects the Black Sea to
the Mediterranean Sea.
• Europe and Asia meet at
the Bosporus Strait.
Asia
Europe
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Byzantine Empire
• The people thought of themselves as Romans.
– Preserved the architecture of Rome
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Markets or forums
Public squares
Paved roads
Cathedrals
Palace
Public baths
Aqueducts
Cisterns (stored water)
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Byzantine Empire
• The people thought of themselves as Romans.
– Remembered the greatness of Rome
• Blend of Greek, Roman, and Christian influences
– Estimated population of a half-million
– Fortress City (Evidence of a city wall)
• Like Rome, the military strength of the Byzantines
contributed to the growth of the empire.
– Crossroads of Trade
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Crossroads of Trade
• The city of Constantinople was built at a
major crossroads of land and sea trade routes.
• Goods filtered into the city from:
– Kiev in the north (current day Russia)
– Egypt in the south
– China from the east
• Byzantines charged taxes on all goods that
passed through the city.
• Over time, the empire grew rich.
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Constantinople
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Struggle for Control
• Two groups sometimes shared control and
sometimes fought over the region:
– Christian Byzantines
– Muslim Arabs and Turks
*Religion caused much disagreement throughout
Christian lands.
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