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World History Era 4: Part 3 NEAR EASTERN CIVILIZATIONS. The Byzantine Civilization. The Rise of New Rome Name: Greek Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul Location: peninsula on the Bosporus Straits separating southeastern Europe from Asia Minor; present day Turkey.
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World History Era 4: Part 3 NEAR EASTERN CIVILIZATIONS
The Byzantine Civilization • The Rise of New Rome • Name: Greek Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul • Location: peninsula on the Bosporus Straits separating southeastern Europe from Asia Minor; present day Turkey http://carpenterinternational.com/ages/pics/byzantine.gif
Importance • Commercial center where east/west trade routes met
Capital of the eastern Roman empire; replaced Rome (after 476) as the primary city of the empire
Importance, cont’d • One of the major patriarchates of the early Christian church • Byzantine civilization was more Greek than Roman, more Asian than European
The Reign of Justinian • His chief objective was to restore the greatness of the Roman empire by • Recovering the Roman territory in the West that had fallen to the barbarians (Italy, Southern Spain, France, and Northern Africa) • Revitalizing the Roman legal system. This became known as the Justinian Code. http://historyofinformation.com/images/justinian.jpg
His reign represented the Golden Age of Byzantine culture through extensive architectural programs (public buildings, roads, aqueducts) and artistic advancements (mosaics)
His successors were not prepared to rule • Financially, the empire was drained from wars and building projects • The eastern and northern borders were unprotected • Separation of the eastern and western churches • Constantine legalized Christianity and his city became the natural center of this “new religion” • Religious rivalry resulted in the bishop of Rome excommunicating the patriarch of Constantinople and vice versa
Differences between the two churches • Control of religious affairs • Celibacy • Icons • Western influenced by Roman and German tribes; eastern influenced by Greek and Oriental ideas http://www.orthodoxchurchsupplies.com/cover.gif
A Chronology of Byzantine History Defense against barbarian attacks Revival of Byzantine civilization Crusaders sack Constantinople 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 Defense against Arab Muslims Rivalry with Italian commercial cities Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople, renaming it Istanbul Defense against Seljuk Turks
The Contributions of the Byzantine Civilization • A shield to protect Europe from the spread of Islam • The means by which the classical heritage of Greece and Rome was preserved and transmitted to the West • A model for the “less civilized” people to copy the culture, government, and religion