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The Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire. “New Rome” Innovative and Enduring. Byzantium – New Rome. Roman Emperor Diocletian splits Empire – 295 AD.

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The Byzantine Empire

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  1. The Byzantine Empire “New Rome” Innovative and Enduring

  2. Byzantium – New Rome • Roman Emperor Diocletian splits Empire – 295 AD. • Constantine – a Christian makes it Rome’s capital city – 330 • Heavy Greek population and culture • Well positioned economically to dominate waterways to the Mediterranean, Asia, Turkey & Russia.

  3. Byzantium – The State • Emperors succeeded from Augustus but…Christianity ruled and the Emperor was now God’s earthly rep. • As centuries passed Emperors took other titles too… Imperator (Army); Basilius (King of Kings - conquest of Persia); Autocrat (absolute ruler). • Highly structured procedures in Palace – complete submission to the Emperor.

  4. Byzantium – The State • Imperial Rules so complex that Emperors read books to know how to act • Visitors “held” by palace guards - knelt down. • Often “Eunuchs” held important positions. • Sacred Palace was the center of the state.

  5. Byzantium – War • Successful in holding of invaders for 800 years • Belisarius – Top general helped Western Rome defeat several barbarian invasions & win back Africa temporarily. • Great at adapting enemy tactics and using them against invaders. Greek Fire

  6. Byzantium – The law • As direct agent of God only Emperor could change law - had to preserve Roman tradition. • Justinian updated and codified Roman Law into 4 categories to regulate the complex Byzantine society. Code – 5000 useful Roman Laws Digest – 50 volumes of legal opinion Institutes – textbook for Roman law students Novellae - Latest law after 534 AD

  7. Byzantium – Society & Economy • Justinian’s building projects remade the city. - Hagia Sophia – Church of the Holy Wisdom Justinian’s masterpiece - Fortifications on the western end & coastline protected them for hundreds of years - Law Courts, schools, hospitals, aqueducts, baths, concourses for trade & Hippodrome

  8. Byzantium – Society & Economy • Great trading center - Crossroads of three worlds due to the positioning of city on water • Streets “buzzed” every day – perpetual bazaar with acrobats and musicians performing. • Hippodrome offered citizens free entertainment – chariot races, performances. • Crowds cheered heroes by colors they wore.

  9. Byzantium – Society & Economy • Nika Riots broke out after rival fan groups began fighting & government officials put it down forcefully – for the 2nd time. • Over 30,000 people rebelled against gov’t. but Belisario killed most of them to end it. • Justinian almost left the city but his wife Theodora talked him out of it with a fiery speech.

  10. Byzantium - Religion The Great Schism – 1054 Disputes cause Roman church and Byzantine church to split. - Should Emperor or Religious leader have more power? - Should people be allowed to use icons to worship? - Should priests be allowed to marry? - Should Mass & Sacraments be in Latin or local languages? Roman Pope and the Byzantine “Patriarch” excommunicate each other and the split over church doctrine is permanent.

  11. Byzantium - Religion • Missionaries spread Catholicism to Slavic countries – Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine & Russia. • Saints Methodius and Cyril create an alphabet to be used by all Slavs so religion could be learned – Cyrillic. • Resembles a combination of Greek and English letters, but with different sounds. • Still used today in Russia

  12. Exit Ticket • What were Byzantium’s key accomplishments in the areas of: Politics and Law Warfare Religion Society

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