Transcript Byzantine Empire - Mater Academy Lakes High School

Byzantine Empire
330 – 1453 C.E.
Christianity
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Based on the teachings of Jesus.
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Originally a movement within Judaism in the Roman territories of Judea and Galilee.
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The attempt to reform was seen as a threat to established powers, including Roman power.
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After the death of Jesus, followers proclaimed that he had risen from the death.
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Missionaries began to spread his teachings and Christianity was established.
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Most early Christians came from the Jews and the Greek-speaking populations of the east. In the 2nd and
3rd centuries, however, an increasing number of followers were Latin-speaking people.
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Between 40-100 C.E. – Missionaries complied their written letters, or epistles, outlining Christian beliefs for
communities they had helped around the Mediterranean.
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These writings make up the core of the New Testament.
In Rome:
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Christians were persecuted during 1st and 2nd century.
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Began during Nero (54-68)
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He blamed Christians for the fire that destroyed much of Rome.
The Church becomes more organized as a reaction to persecution.
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New, separate roles for the clergy (church leaders) and the laity (regular church member) .
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Reign of Constantine - 313 C.E. – Edict of Milan – proclaimed official tolerance for Christianity.
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Reign of Theodosius the Great (378-395) - Christianity becomes official religion of the Roman Empire
Political History: Fall of Western Roman Empire
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Before the fall of the Western Roman Empire(WRE):
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Reforms:
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Diocletian (284-305)
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Divided the empire into four units, each with its own ruler. Why?
Constantine (306-337)
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First Christian Roman Emperor
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330 C.E. - oversaw the construction of a new capital in the east: Byzantium (ancient Greek city) became known as
Constantinople or “New Rome” aka modern-day Istanbul, Turkey.
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The location was strategic: it provided protection of the eastern frontier
Both attempts to reform the Roman Empire caused an expansion of the army and civil service, which led
to a draining of the treasury. Inflation, rapid rise of prices, rose.
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301 – Diocletian issues a price edict, which set wage and price controls on the empire.
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Additional edicts were made, which forced workers to remain in their vocation. Many vocations became
hereditary.
476 C.E. – Romulus Augustus (western emperor) was deposed by Germanic head of army. *This is
taken as the date the WRE fell*
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The Eastern Roman Empire (ERE) continues with Constantinople as its center.
Political History: Eastern Roman Empire
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Justinian (527-565)
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Emperor of ERE; he wanted to reestablish the Roman Empire
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By 552, ERE included Italy, part of Spain, N. Africa, Asia Minor, Palestine, and Syria.
It’s not easy being big…
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After Justinian reestablished the empire there were plenty of problems:
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Territory too far away to be properly protected
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Empty treasury
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Decline in population after a plague
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Renewed threats to the frontier. Particularly from unified Arab armies (rise of Islam).
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By 565, Italy was no longer part of ERE. (Lombards took control)
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636 – Islamic forces defeat an ERE army in Yarmūk
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679 – Bulgars took possession of the lower Danube Valley.
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Consequence: Lost of the provinces of Syria and Palestine
Consequence: lost of western Balkan region; creation of strong Bulgarian Kingdom
By 8th cent. – ERE only consisted of the Eastern Balkans and Asia Minor
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This smaller empire called The Byzantine Empire
Political History: Byzantine Empire
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Macedonian Emperors
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Expanded the Byzantine Empire to its largest size since the 600s
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The empire included Bulgaria (Balkans region), Crete, Cyprus, and Syria.
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Trade expanded to include Western Europe – helping Constantinople to renew its prosperity.
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By the late 11th century, incompetent successors and power struggles between
army leaders and wealthy families undid many of the gains.
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1054 – Schism (separation) between the RCC and the EOC occurs
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Disagreement as to who the leader of the Church actually is
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The Pope Leo IX (RCC) claims he is the supreme leader of the Church
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Patriarch Michael Cerularius condemns the pope for exercising power that is not his to exercise
Both church leaders excommunicate each other
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East/West split – Greek/Latin split
Political History: Byzantine Empire
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Greatest threat to the empire came from the Seljuk Turks in Asia Minor
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1071 – Defeat of Byzantine army by Turkish army in Manzikert
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Consequence: Emperor Alexius I turns to Europe to fight the Turkish armies
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1204 - During 4th Crusade, crusaders sacked Constantinople.
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Consequence: lost of territory and greater divide between RCC and EOC.
1261 – Byzantine army recaptures Constantinople.
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Beginning of The Crusades
The empire was no longer a strong power: remaining territory included
Constantinople, its surrounding lands, and part of Asia Minor.
1453 – Constantinople captured by the Ottoman Turks.
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This marks the end of the Byzantine Empire.
The Body of Civil Law or The Justinian Code
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Justinian’s most
important contribution
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Codification of the
Roman law
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Basis for imperial law
until 1453.
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Also, basis for much of
the legal system in
Europe – to this day.
Architecture/Culture
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During the Middle Ages, Constantinople
was the largest city in Europe.
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532 – the city was destroyed by riots
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Justinian ordered it rebuilt
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The cityscape became dominated by an
enormous palace complex, hundreds of
churches and a huge arena, the
Hippodrome.
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Public works projects: roads, bridges,
walls, public baths, law courts, schools,
underground reservoirs (held city’s water
supply), and libraries
Greek and Roman texts were studied
long before they were studied in
Western Europe.
Hagia Sophia or “Church of the Holy Wisdom”
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Constructed between 532-537 C.E.
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http://www.glencoe.com/video_library/index_with_mods.php?PR
OGRAM=9780078745256&VIDEO=3992&CHAPTER=9&MODE=2
Religion
East/West Divide
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WRE (or the Germanic kingdoms, which emerged
after its fall) – Roman Catholic Church (RCC)
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Byzantine Empire – Eastern Orthodox Church (EOC)
Church and state:
The emperor was portrayed as chosen by God. His
power was absolute.
The emperor appointed the head of the EOC
(known as the patriarch).
What can be inferred from this?
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Schism
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Disagreement as to who was the head of the church
emerged between the RCC and EOC.
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The head of the RCC (the Pope) claimed that he was sole
leader and voice of God on earth. The head of the EOC
(patriarch) disagreed. The schism led to the disunification
of the churches which still goes on to this day.