Quick Review of Ch. 7 - 8

1. Quick Review of Ch. 7 - 8 • Why is the period of time from about 500 – 1500 referred to as the ‘medieval times’? • How does feudalism work? • What role did the church play during the middle ages? • Who did medieval kings often have conflict with over authority? • What was the impact of the Crusades? • How did the Black Plague come about in Europe?

2. Ch. 9 The Byzantine Empire, Russia, and Eastern Europe (330 – 1613)

3. S 1: The Byzantine Empire • When German invaders pounded the Roman empire in the west, Roman emperor Constantine headed east and in 330 rebuilt the Greek city of Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople as the new capital. • This eastern empire became known as the Byzantine Empire.

4. The Byzantine Empire Flourishes Under Justinian • Ruled from 527 – 565 • Rebuilt Constantinople after a fire • Recovered land from invaders • Strengthened his power through his collection of written laws known as Justinian’s Code

5. Byzantine Christianity • Christianity is important to the Byzantine Empire, but it develops a little differently in the East than in Western Europe. • Ex: Byzantine Christians rejected the pope’s claim to authority over all Christians. Instead, the Byzantine emperor controlled Church affairs. • Ex: Priests in Western Europe could not marry, but they could in Eastern Europe • Ex: Western Europe’s church spoke Latin, but Eastern Europe’s church spoke Greek. • The Great Schism • Split between eastern and western Christianity • Byzantine Church = Eastern Orthodox Church • Western Church = Roman Catholic Church Discussion Q: Can you think of any other examples of ways that Christians / Christian churches today do things differently?

6. The Empire Suffers Crisis and Collapses • Struggles over succession (Who’s in charge after an emperor dies?) and constant wars • The Crusades bring destruction to Constantinople • In 1453, The Ottoman Empire (Muslims from the East) surrounded Constantinople • It’s renamed Istanbul and becomes a center of Muslim culture

7. Discussion Questions • Why do you think Christian and Muslim Civilizations weren’t able to get along during the Middle Ages? • Why do you think there is still conflict between Christianity / Judaism and Islam in modern times?

8. S 2: The Rise of Russia • As Western Europe developed its own medieval civilization, Russian culture took a different path, as it served to connect Europe and Asia.

9. Rivers Link Russia and Byzantium • Rivers running from north to south linked early Russians to the more advanced Byzantine world in the south. • Byzantine missionaries share Christianity with Russians Russia Located Up Here

10. The Mongols Rule Russia • In the early 1200s, Genghis Khan unites the nomadic Mongols of central Asia and conquerors lands stretching from China all the way to eastern Europe. • The absolute power of the Mongols served as a model for later Russian rulers, but it also cut Russia off from contact with Western Europe.

11. S3: Shaping Eastern Europe • *The history of Eastern Europe has been marked by migration, foreign conquest, war, and revolution. • The diverse mix of people have often fought with each other and foreigners, but they havealso contributed to cultural enrichment.

12. Migrations Contribute to Diversity of Eastern Europe • Eastern Europe now includes a wealth of languages and cultures • Waves of Asians: Huns, Avars, and Magyars • Vikings and Germanic peoples • Byzantine missionaries bring Christianity • Ottomans invade and bring Islam • Jews flee persecution in Western Europe and find refuge in Eastern Europe Discussion Q: What do you think are the possible benefits and setbacks that can occur with such diversity?

13. Quick Review of Ch. 9 • How did the Byzantine Empire begin? • What was Justinian’s impact? • How would you describe the relationship between Christianity in the West and East? • What was taking place in Russia during the Middle Ages? • How would you describe the population of Eastern Europe?