Transcript The Byzantine Empire 9.3

The Byzantine Empire
9.3
• Grew rich and powerful
• A.D. 500-A.D. 1200
Capital- Constantinople
• One of the world’s great cities
• Wealthy
• Safe harbors
• Crossroads of trade routes between Europe and
Asia
• Secure land location
• Easily defended
Influence of Greek Culture
• At first, followed Roman ways
• Became more Greek as time
passed
• Blended non-Greek and Persian
cultures
Emperor Justinian
A.D. 527-A.D. 565
• Wife, Theodora
• Helped choose government officials
• Convinced Justinian to give women
more rights
• Encouraged Justinian to stay and fight
back an uprising in A.D. 532. He won
and gained more power.
Justinian’s Goal
• Reunite the Roman Empire
• General Belisarius
• Armored cavalry
• Successful
• Unable to hold the west, not enough
money to maintain the army
Justinian’s Law Code
• Why? Laws disorganized, difficult
to understand
• How? Scholars led by Tribonian
• Effects?
• Laws more understandable
• Influenced Europe’s laws
Byzantine Civilization
• Center of trade between Europe
and Asia
• Made the Empire very rich
• Main industry- SILK WEAVING
Artists and Architects
• Many churches, forts, and public
buildings
• Hagia Sophia
• Mosaics
• Family center of social life
• Divorce rare
• Women
• Cared for home and family
• Educated (at home) some
involved in politics
Education
• Govt. supported
• Boys went to school
Literature
• Wrote about religion
• Copied and passed on the writings
of ancient Greece and Rome.
SAVED THEM!