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The Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire. It’s Ties to Rome & the Islamic Empires. Location is Key!. Byzantine Empire survived the fall of the Roman Empire. Constantinople served as a capital city for the Eastern half of the empire Maintained Roman cultural traits: amphitheaters, stadia, architectural styles.

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The Byzantine Empire

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  1. The Byzantine Empire It’s Ties to Rome & the Islamic Empires

  2. Location is Key! • Byzantine Empire survived the fall of the Roman Empire. • Constantinople served as a capital city for the Eastern half of the empire • Maintained Roman cultural traits: amphitheaters, stadia, architectural styles. • Success of the Byzantine Empire is mostly due to its location: • At an easy access point for Eurasian maritime & land-based trade • Lacked the vulnerability of barbarian tribes • Easily defended from attack

  3. Fate of Western Europe? • What is happening in Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire? • Overrun with barbarian tribes: • Spain- Visigoths • Britain- Britons, Angles, Saxons • France- Franks • Italy- Ostrogoths • Chaos replaced the order of the empire • No written laws • No judicial system • Loyalty to the barbarian chief governed the lands • Only remnant of Roman life was the existence of the Catholic faith. • Barbarianism ended once the tribes converted.

  4. Strengths of the Byzantines • Had a strong, stable government • Use of emperors similar to Rome • Unique because it’s an example of a “reconstituted” government • Succession problems didn’t exist: based on patriarchy & family lineage • Codified Roman laws for standardization & uniformity (Code of Justinian) • Culturally Unified Empire • Differs from Rome because it was a blend of many cultures: • Turks, Greeks, Roman, Hellenistic (Perisan & Indian) • Cultural distinctions did not tear the empire apart • Unified by the Orthodox faith compared to Rome • Helped spread Orthodoxy to Russia & Eastern Europe • Often blended Christian & Muslim-inspired architecture • Standardized System of Taxation

  5. Problems with the Empire • Conflicts with Islamic Empires • Over time, the increasing strength of caliphates spread to Byzantine borders • Constant conflict led to the need for increase in taxation to pay for protection • Crusades were often fought in Byzantine borders. This led to religious conflicts between Christians & Muslims. • Internal Conflicts • Increase in taxation led to peasant revolts, which weakened the stability of the empire • Pressures from Outside Powers: • 1453—Ottoman Turks eventually overthrow the empire.

  6. Changes & Continuities: • Continuities: • Large empire that conquered using dominant militaries. • Large empire governed by a strong emperor. EX: ??? • Empire that glorified its power through the construction of large buildings. • Empire that supported & patronized the arts. • Decline of the empire was due to conquests from outside forces. • Decline of the empire was due to internal revolts. • Changes: • Large empire that consisted of a new, reconstituted government. • Extension of the (western) Roman Empire • Large empire that was united culturally despite the diversity. • Governed by an emperor that claimed power through patriarchy & lineage

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