Transcript Decline of the Byzantine Empire

Global History I: Spiconardi


Byzantine Empire had reached
it’s height under Justinian (527565)
Empire began a slow and long
decline after Justinian’s reign

Constant Invasions
 Size of Empire continually decreases
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Seljuk Turks
 In 1071 Seljuk Turks conquer most of the
empire except for the areas immediately
surrounding Constantinople

Fourth Crusade (1202-1204)
 Christian Crusaders stop in
Constantinople on their way to Holy
Land
 Crusaders Occupy Constantinople for 50
years
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Fall of Constantinople
(1453)
 Major Turning Point in
World History
▪ Ottoman Turks sack
Constantinople
▪ Rename the city Istanbul
▪ Converted the ancient
Christian city into the capital of
their Muslim City
▪ European
Nations are
forced to
find new
Trade
routes to
avoid
Muslims
▪ Sail
around
Africa
(Vasco da
Gama)
▪ Sail West
(Columbus)
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Kiev  small Viking state on Dnieper River
 River provided easy access to sea  promotes
trade and cultural diffusion
 Lays foundations for modern Russia

Olga, Vladimir, & Conversion to
Christianity
 Princess Olga visits Constantinople in 957
and converts to Christianity
 Vladimir
▪ Olga’s grandson
▪ Decides his realm
should adopt an
official religion
▪ Commissions a
report on the
three major
religions:
Christianity, Judaism,
and Islam
▪ Adopts Christianity
 Baptizes all
citizens of Kiev in
the Dnieper River
▪ Imports teachers
from the Byzantine
Empire

Government
 Autocracy
▪ Czar (Tsar) derived from Caesar  Ah,
wacka wacka
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Architecture
 Onion Dome
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Language
 Cyrillic Alphabet

Religion
 Orthodox Christianity