The Byzantine Empire

1. The Byzantine Empire A New Rome

2. Byzantium Overview • Let’s look at the BIG IDEAS

3. “TWO ROMES” EAST AND WEST • THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE ALLOWS ROMAN IDEAS TO STAY ALIVE • IT BECOME MORE GREEK THAN LATIN OVER TIME

4. BYZANTIUM WAS MORE THAN ‘PART’ OF ROME • IT LATER SURPASSED ROME IN THE 4TH CENTURY • IT’S UNIQUE CULTURAL IDENTITY SPREAD • GREATLY INFLUENCED RUSSIA

5. PROBLEMS,… INVASIONS • BECAUSE OF IT’S SEPARATION, THEY SURVIVED THE NOMADIC INVASIONS THAT TORE WESTERN ROME APART • EASTERN EMPERORS RULED FROM THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN TO NORTH AFRICA

6. DEVELOPED A HIGHLY CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT THAT EMPHASIZED BEAUROCRACY OVER MILITARY POWER • THE CULTURE SHIFTED TO GREEK- AWAY FROM ROMAN IDEAS

7. EMPEROR IS PRIEST-KING, • ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ(basileus) • MODELED AFTER KING DAVID • AND???

8. EMPEROR IS PRIEST-KING, • ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ(basileus) • MODELED AFTER KING DAVID • AND??? • Jesus. • How does this differ from the West?

9. What are the advantages of building a major city here?

10. Advantages Peninsula • Provided natural safe harbors for ships • both merchant and military ships • Provided natural defense • water on three sides. (the Black and Aegean Seas)

11. Advantages Trade • Easy access to the Mediterranean Sea • Located at an important land route that linked Europe and Asia (Silk Road).

12. The founding of Constantinopleand the Byzantine Empire • Since the Rule of Diocletian (in the late 200s A.D.) The Roman Empire was divided in two. • Western and Eastern Empires. • The Western half was being weakened by constant attacking Germanic invaders. • In 330 A.D. Emperor Constantine decided to relocate the capital.

13. He chose to locate the capital at the Greek city of Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople. (this was the area we looked at on the map) • Constantine molded the new capital after Rome. • Often referred to as “new Rome”

14. Constantinople • City was heavily fortified • Water on three side plus a wall was built to protect the fourth side. • Multi-ethnic city • Greeks, Persians, Italians, Slavs, Armenians, and Jews lived in the city • The citizens spoke Greek, but Latin was the official language.

15. Constantinople • During Constantine's rule over 600, 000 people lived in the city. • Constantine convinced many wealthy Romans to move to the city by offering to build them palaces.

16. THE SPLIT: EAST & WEST • In 410 A.D. Rome fell to the Germanic invaders. • However, the city of Constantinople and the eastern empire remained. • This is when the Byzantine Empire started.

17. FROM ROMAN EMPIRE TO BYZANTINE EMPIRE • REMEMBER!!! • Western half crumbled, eastern half remained intact • Eastern half was largely Christian and Greek speaking • Eastern half also contained different Christian sects • Great wealth and large population • The Byzantine emperors faced different challenges • Conflict with Sasanid dynasty (226-641 AD) in Persia • Invasions of migratory peoples from the north and east • Tightly centralized rule of a highly exalted emperor • Caesaropapism: Emperor is both caesar and pope • The state and church are separate • Emperor appoints patriarchs, influence over pope • Emperors also stood above the law • Dress and court etiquette designed to enhance rulers' status • Adopted Oriental style monarchy with all the symbols

18. JUSTINIAN AND THEODORA • From 476 to late 6th Century CE • Empire was weak in Europe • Dealt with invasions • Justinian and Theodora • Couple came from obscure origins • Seized power through bureaucracy • Theodora was a strong advisor • Justinian Code (This is important!) • Issued Corpus iuris civilis (The Body of the Civil Law) • The code influenced civil law codes of western Europe, post-Renaissance • Bzantine conquests • Belisarius, Narses reconquered part of western Empire • North Africa, Italy, coast of Southern Spain • Threats from Sasanids and Slavic peoples • Persians were a constant threat • Slavs migrated into Balkans; settled in interior lands

19. The Reign of Justinian • The height of the first period of Byzantine history (324-632) was the reign of Emperor Justinian (r. 537-565) and his wife Empress Theodora (d. 548)

20. The Imperial Goal: Unity • The imperial goal in the East was to centralize government and impose legal and doctrinal conformity. One GodOne EmpireOne Religion

21. 1st Method: Law • Justinian collated and revised Roman law. His Corpus Juris Civilis (body of civil law) had little effect on medieval common law. However, beginning with the Renaissance, it provided the foundation for most European law down to the 19th century.

22. 2nd Method: Religion • Religion as well as law served imperial centralization. In 380, Christianity had been proclaimed the official religion of the eastern empire. Now all other religions were considered “demented and insane.”

23. Increase in Church Wealth • Between the 4th and 6th centuries, the patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem acquired enormous wealth in the form of land and gold.

24. Increase in Clergy • The prestige and comfort that the clergy enjoyed swelled the ranks of the clergy in the Eastern Church.

25. Independent Thinking • Ideas thought to be heresies by the Roman Catholic Church received imperial support: • Arianism denied that Father and Son were equal and coeternal. • Monophysitism taught that Jesushad only one nature, a composite divine-human one. • Iconoclasm forbid the use of images (icons) because it led toidolatry.

26. 3rd Method: Strong Cities • During Justinian’s reign, the empire’s strength was its more than 1,500 cities. The largest with 350,000 inhabitants, was Constantinople, the cultural crossroads of Asian and European civilizations.

27. "Not since the world was made was there . . . so much wealth as was found in Constantinople. For the Greeks say that two-thirds of the wealth of this world is in Constantinople and the other third scattered throughout the world." • --Robert of Clari, a French crusader who witnessed the pillage of the city in 1204, describing Constantinople.

28. Loyal Governors and Bishops • Between the 4th and 5th centuries, councils were made up of local wealthy landowners, who were not necessarily loyal to the emperor. By the 6th century, special governors and bishops replaced the councils and proved to be more loyal to the emperor.

29. Extensive Building Plans Justinian was an ambitious builder. His greatest monument was the magnificent domed church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), which was constructed in just five years (532­37).

30. BYZANTINE EMPIRE c. 600 CE

31. Threats to Byzantium • The emergence of the Islamic state • Arab peoples conquered Sasanids, part of Byzantium • Lost Egypt, North Africa, Fertile Cresent, Crete, Cyprus • Prolonged sieges of Constantinople by Islamic armies • Byzantine survived partly because of "Greek fire" • Imperial organization • Government run by trained bureaucracy, professional army • The theme system strengthened Byzantine society • Under rule of general, who ran army, civil bureaucracy • Responsible for protecting peasants • Themes were provinces organized on a military basis • Local officials recruited troops from within theme • Aristocrats limited by army, emperor, bureaucracy • The revival of the empire • Reconquered Syria, Crete, Cyprus: 10th century • "Basil the Bulgar Slayer," crushed Bulgars in Balkans

32. THE THREAT OF ISLAM

33. MAP OF THE EMPIRE

34. BYZANTIUM & WESTERN EUROPE • Tensions between Greeks and Latins • Ecclesiastical tensions • Constantinople • Greek was religious language • Caesaropapist emperors • Rome • Latin was chief language • Autonomy from imperial authorities • Rivalry for conversion of Slavs • Political grievances • First Franks then Germans claimed imperial authority • Charlemagne received imperial crown in 800 • Otto of Saxony claimed himself an emperor in 962 • Byzantines felt they were only legitimate emperor • Rivalry over Southern Italy and Sicily

35. BYZANTINE ECONOMY • The Agricultural Economy • The peasantry • The backbone of the Byzantine army and economy • Landless peasants worked as share-croppers • Invasions of 6th, 7th century led to theme system • Since 11th century, free peasants declined • Consequences of the peasantry's decline • Landowners shifted taxes to peasants • Landowners raised forces on estates • Pool of military recruits shrank • Industry and Trade • Manufacturing enterprises • Byzantine craftsmen had high reputation in various industries • High-quality silk became important industry; imperial monopoly • Trade • Constantinople, important for Eurasian, Mediterranean trade • Solidus was the standard currency of the Mediterranean basin • Byzantium drew enormous wealth from foreign trade • Banks and partnerships supported commercial economy

36. URBAN LIFE • Urban Life • The capital was the heart of the empire • Housing in Constantinople • Enormous palaces owned by aristocrats • Less splendid dwellings owned by less privileged classes • Attractions of Constantinople • City of baths, taverns, restaurants, theaters, Hippodrome • The most popular game - chariot races • Greens and Blues • The two factions of fans for chariot races • Frequent fights in the street between them • Joined together in a popular uprising, 532 • The riot left Constantinople in shambles

37. THE CITY OF CONSTANTINOPLE

38. TWIN LEGACIES • Byzantine education • State-organized school system, • Schools trained government bureaucrats • Private education for aristocratic families • Basic literacy was widespread even among lower classes • Citizens constantly engaged in intellectual disputes • Scholarship • Emphasis on humanities, classics • Arts, architecture important for state, church • Natural science generally ignored • Educated considered heirs of classical Greece • Christianity (Church) was other legacy

39. HAGIA SOFIA

40. BYZANTINE CHURCH • Church and state • Church's close relationship with the imperial government • Constantine actively participated in religious debate • Under emperors, church was department of state • Iconoclasm • Controversy over use of icons in religious services • Old Testament prohibition on false images, Islamic influences • Iconoclasts wanted to purge all churches of icons • Ban inaugurated by Emperor Leo III in 726 AD • Unpopular policy sparked protests, riots throughout the empire • Opposed by Western Christians, Pope • The iconoclasts abandoned their effort in 843 AD • Much protest, excommunications from pope • Emperors worried • Greek Philosophy and Byzantine theology • Examine theology from philosophical point of view • Debate about Jesus's nature, a philosophical issue • Arian Heresy • Monophysite Controversy

41. ICONS The word of God in art used for prayer: Iconographers read Bible passage, paint as a prayer. Icons follow certain styles using specific colors, images.

42. MONASTICISM AND PIETY • Asceticism • Extreme asceticism, self-denial by some Christians • Many famous, wealthy retreated to monasteries • "Pillar saints" • Byzantine monasticism and St. Basil • Earliest monasteries of dedicated hermits, ascetics • Monasticism began in Egypt area • Reforms urged by St. Basil, 4th century AD • Monasteries provided local social services • Hospitals, orphanages, poor relief • Heavily endowed by wealthy • Not centers of learning

43. THE GREAT SCHISM • Constantinople and Rome • Political rivalry in Central Europe, Balkans, Southern Italy • Popes supported anti-Byzantine Normans, Hungarians • Papal missionaries active in Greek areas • Iconoclastic movement in the east criticized by the west • Emperors vs. Popes • Who is head of the church – pope or an emperor • Ritual, doctrinal differences • Leavened vs. unleavened bread • Marriage of priests • Liturgy in the vernacular • Council rule versus the monarchical style of the pope • Filoque controversy: Holy Spirit – from who does it proceed? • Schism • Power struggle led to mutual excommunication, 1054 • Rivalry between pope, patriarch • Papal ambassador excommunicated patriarch; vise versa • Origins of Eastern Orthodox & Roman Catholic churches • It was really post-1054 actions were made split permanent

44. DOMESTIC PROBLEMS AND FOREIGN CHALLENGES • Social problems • Generals, local aristocrats allied, a challenge to imperial power • Free peasants were declining in number and prosperity • Imperial government had fewer recruits, many fiscal problems • Challenges from the east • Muslim Seljuk Turks invaded Anatolia, defeat Byzantines, 1071 • Also took control of Abbasid Caliphate, Holy places in Jerusalem • The loss of Anatolia sealed the fate of the Byzantine empire • Challenges from the west • Norman army expelled Byzantine authorities in southern Italy • Normans, western Europeans mounted a series of crusades • The fourth crusade sacked Constantinople • Byzantine forces recaptured the capital in 1261 • Byzantines never recovered • Turks gradually push Byzantines out of Asia; into Europe

45. MAP OF BYZANTINE PROBLEMS

46. EASTERN EUROPE • Slavs, Avars, Magyars (Hungarians), Vlachs (Rumanians) • As Germans moved west, Slavs moved into vacuum • Pushed into Balkans, Greece, Central Europe • Generally agriculturalists, favored trade • Avars and Magyars were pastoral nomads who invaded area • Settled in Pannonia, area of Danube plain outside Byzantine control • Split Northern or Western Slavs from Southern of Jugo-slavs • Vlachs: Latin speaking agriculturalists, herders in Transylvania • Eastern Europe • Byzantine ruled area up to Danube, into Bosnia • Slavs settled inside imperial boundaries • Maintained close contact with Byzantium from the 6th century • The peoples included Serbs, Croats, Macedonians • Rise Bulgars • Bulgars were Turkish pastoralists • Conquered, settled in Danube area; adopted Slavic traditions • Formed very powerful kingdom, threat to Byzantines • Missions to the Slavs • Byzantium sent missionaries to Central Europe, Balkans • The mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius, mid-9th century • Cyrillic writing stimulated conversion to Orthodox Christianity • Split Allegiance of Eastern Europe • Pope: Magyars, Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Croats, Slovenes • Patriarch: Serbs, Bulgars, Macedonians, Russians, Romanians

47. SLAVIC MIGRATIONS

48. RUSSIA • Rise of Russia • Area inhabited by Slavs • Varangians (Vikings) arrived, used river system • Set up state based on trade, conquest around 9th Century • State founded by Rurik, people called Rus; capital Kiev • The conversion of Prince Vladimir, 989 • Converted for trade, commercial reasons • Elites baptized by order of prince, often against will • Served as conduit for spread of Byzantine culture, religion • Conversion led to literacy, use of Slavonic; Greek traditions • Byzantine art and architecture dominated Kiev • The growth of Kiev • Princes established caesaropapist control of church • After 1453 claimed to inherit imperial crown of Byzantium • State divided into provinces ruled by princes/boyars • Landed nobles called boyars, constant strife with princes • Kievan rule was very decentralized • Constant threat, war with steppe nomads

49. RUSSIA • Why/How does Russia lay claim to being the inheritors of the Roman Empire?

50. End of the Line • The Story of the last 500 years of the empire are one of slow, managed decline. • The sack of Constantinople by the 4th Crusade (1204) is a huge blow to the city, people, and relations between East & West. • Future generations will welcome the Turks (1453), thinking they will be more understanding and kind.