Transcript The Byzantine Empire & The Crusades

The Byzantine Empire
& The Crusades
SS.A.2.4.6; SS.A.2.4.5; SS.D.2.4.6
Emperor Justinian
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When western Roman Empire collapses, and
replaced by Germanic states, the eastern Roman
Empire continues to exist
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Centered around Constantinople, later renamed
Byzantine Empire
527: Justinian becomes Emperor, wanted to
reestablish Roman Empire in Mediterranean
552: Roman Empire almost back to old boarders
Empire shrinks after Justinian’s death
Justinian’s Contributions
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Eastern empire inherits complex legal system
Justinian set out to simplify the laws
The Body of Civil Law: The results of Justinian’s
efforts, became basis for Byzantine law to 1453
 Justinian’s code also influenced western law
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Eastern Roman Problems
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After Justinian, empire is left with problems:
Too much land to defend
 Empty treasuries
 Decline in population due to plague
 Threats on its boarders
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Muslim Arabs sweep through empire, taking
more than half its territory
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ERE defeated at Yarmuk in 636, ceding control of
Syria and Palestine to Arab control
679: Defeated by Bulgarians in the north, losing
control of Danube River Valley
From Roman To Byzantine
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Empire shrunk to include just Balkans and A.M.
Greek replaces Latin as official language
Emperor viewed as chosen by God, and his
power was absolute
Emperor appointed the leaders of the Eastern
church known as a patriarch
The emperor was the leader of both church and
state, protecting the true Christian faith
Constantinople
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Europe’s greatest city until 1100s
City grew rich facilitating trade b/w east & west
Justinian’s buildings dominate landscape
Hippodrome=arena for races and gladiators
 Hagia Sophia: main church built in 537
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The Hagia Sophia—Church of the Holy
Wisdom—is the most famous Byzantine
building, today known as the Blue Mosque
New Success, New Troubles
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Macedonian emperors bring new prosperity
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Early success undone by political infighting
Macedonians do not accept pope’s claim to be
sole head of Christian faith
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Rule from 867 to 1081, expand empire
1054 Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael Cerularius
excommunicate each other—causes schism
Seljuk Turks defeat Byzantines at Manzikert
Call To Holy War
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Emperor Alexius I of Byzantium asks the pope
for help against the Seljuk Turks (Muslims)
Pope Urban II responds, calling for European,
Christian warriors to liberate Jerusalem from the
infidels, this fight was called the Crusades
Western Europeans, mostly French, answer call
Causes for fighting: religion, trade, land, title,
money and adventure
The Early Crusades
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Mostly French army of over 10,000 capture Antioch
(1098) and Jerusalem (1099)
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Four Crusader states established in Holy Land
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European victories marked by brutal massacres of the cities’
inhabitants (Jewish, Christian and Muslim)
Italian ports grow rich from trade with Crusaders
Muslims begin taking back land, Bernard of Clairvaux
calls for 2nd Crusade (failure)
Saladin retakes Jerusalem in 1187
3rd Crusade included Richard I of England, Philip II of
France and Frederick Barbarossa
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Frederick drowns, Philip goes home, leaving Richard to
negotiate with Saladin allowing Christian pilgrims free access
to Jerusalem
The Later Crusades
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Saladin dies in 1193, Pope Innocent III calls for
Fourth Crusade in 1196
On way to holy land, Crusades stops in
Constantinople, crusaders sack the city in 1204
 Byzantine army recaptures city in 1061, empire is
weak, remains that way unyil 1453 (Ottoman conq.)
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1212: Children’s Crusade
Future Crusades also failures
Effects of the Crusades
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Italy grows rich though trade with Crusaders
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Genoa, Pisa and Venice
Jews also targeted across Europe as infidels
Noblemen sell their land and free serfs before
leaving to fight, as lords lose power, kings take
more power creating centralized states
Increased trade with the East provides more
money for kings
1400: Portugal, Spain, England & France emerge
as strong, centralized kingdoms—flourish