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Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire. Main Idea . After the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, the Byzantine Empire emerged as the dominant eastern power, with Constantinople as its political, economic, and religious center. The empire lasted over 1,000 years. Background:.

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Byzantine Empire

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  1. Byzantine Empire

  2. Main Idea • After the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, the Byzantine Empire emerged as the dominant eastern power, with Constantinople as its political, economic, and religious center. The empire lasted over 1,000 years.

  3. Background: • 1. Western half of the Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D. • 2. Byzantium had already been rebuilt by Emperor Constantine, who then renamed the city Constantinople.

  4. Geography and Cityscape of Constantinople • 1. Built on seven hills and divided into 14 districts, like Rome. • 2. Protected by 13 miles of walls, watchtowers, and gates. • 3. Easily fortified site surrounded on three sides by water, bordering a natural harbor. Its location combined with its control of the Bosporus Strait made the city a hub for trade and shipping between Europe, Africa, and Asia.

  5. Walls of Constantinople

  6. A satellite view of the area. Black Sea Europe Can you see the remarkable location of Constantinople at the center of the ‘X’ of land & sea trade routes? Asia Aegean Sea

  7. The Black Sea. The BosphorusStrait. The Sea of Marmara. The DardanellesStrait. Constantinopletoday known as Istanbul.

  8. A great view of the Bosphorus from space. Can you see the point that is Byzantium? And can you see the narrow bay to the north of Byzantium that is called the Golden Horn?

  9. A satellite view of Istanbul today. There used to be a chain stretched across the Golden Horn for protection.

  10. Geography and Cityscape of Constantinople • 4. Adequate distance from Germanic invasions of the western empire. • 5. Good location to protect Europe’s eastern frontier. • 6. Seized by Turks in 1435 and renamed Istanbul; today it is a major city in modern Turkey.

  11. Role of Constantinople: • 1. True center or seat of Byzantine power until the Ottoman conquest • 2. Important in preserving classical Greco-Roman culture

  12. Justinian and Theodora

  13. How Justinian Was Described • While alive Justinian was described as devout, determined, and energetic. Why? • After His Death, the historian Procopius referred to Justinian as two-faced and cruel in a “Secret History”

  14. Achievements of Byzantine Emperor Justinian: • 1. Justinian Code (Corpus Juris Civilis) – sorted through old Roman laws and established a new code of law for the Byzantine Empire. It lasted for 900 years! • - included laws concerning marriage, slavery, property, inheritance, and women’s rights • - Significance – had a significant impact on European legal code

  15. Achievements of Byzantine Emperor Justinian: 2. Re-conquered former Roman territories but not Rome 3. Significantly expanded trade

  16. Achievements of Byzantine Emperor Justinian: 4. Acted as head of church and state (2-seated Chair) 5. Placed a heavy emphasis on church building, which displayed his leadership of both the government and the church. - Hagia Sophia – Constantinople’s masterpiece of architecture and faith

  17. One of Justinian’s greatest accomplishments - the construction of the beautiful Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom ~ The Hagia Sophia

  18. And more achievements! 6. Came to throne at age 45! Considered Byzantium's most ambitious ruler. 7. Drove barbarians out of North Africa, Spain, and Italy 8. Built bridges, churches, hospitals, libraries, and last but not least parks.

  19. THEODORA!?!?!? • Born into lower class, worked as an actress and dancer as a teenager. • Loved adventure, new friendships and travel • Married Justinian while in her 20’s, sometimes equaled or surpassed husbands wisdom and skills. • Convinced her husband to crush Nika rebellion • Established Social Welfare programs for the poor • Worked for the rights of women

  20. Theodora • Engineering an Empire Video- Justinian & Theodora • In the bubble heads, write 5 statements about Theodora from the points of view of: • The poor • Women • Nika rebels • Justinian • Her friends

  21. HagiaSophia

  22. HAGIA SOPHIA Key Points in the History of the Hagia Sophia • Built during Justinian’s reign. Took 5-6 years to build • Known as the “Church of Holy Wisdom” • When Constantinople fell to the Turks, Hagia Sophia became a mosque; now it is a museum

  23. HAGIA SOPHIA Important concepts found in the Hagia Sophia’s Architecture • Plain exterior symbolizes earthly life • Ornate interior symbolizes spiritual universe • Cathedral’s size, thick pillars, and enclosed space show Roman influence. • Intricate and ornate design shows Eastern influences

  24. 1. Byzantine architects invented the pendentiveswhich connected the round base of a dome to a square building.

  25. 2. The combination of Greco-Roman and Middle Eastern influence are evident in the intricate decoration on this column.

  26. Mosaics with gold-covered stones added more light to the huge interior of Hagia Sofia.

  27. Byzantine Achievements in Art and Architecture: 3. art and architecture inspired by two things: Christian religion and imperial power 4. Icons – definition – religious images 5. Elaborate mosaics in public and religious structures

  28. Icon/Mosaic in Hagia Sophia

  29. Byzantine Achievements in Art and Architecture: 4. Hagia Sophia – most beautiful architectural achievement 5. Hippodrome – entertainment venue for chariot races and circuses

  30. Hippodrome

  31. Engineering and Empire Video

  32. Byzantine Culture: 1. Greek and Roman knowledge preserved in Byzantine libraries 2. Greek – primary language (as opposed to Latin in the West) 3. Church – Greek Orthodox Christianity

  33. The Division of the Christian Church: • Background: Distance and lack of contact slowly caused the doctrines and rituals of Western and Eastern Christianity to split in the 11th Century.

  34. The Great Schism • Icons – Pictures of important Christians or sacred events. Can be mosaics, murals, wooden panels. • Those who did not believe in them were called Iconoclasts (Eastern Christians) • This was one of the breaking points for the split.

  35. East vs. West : A Religious Dispute • Patriarch- head bishop of the east (Constantinople) • Regional differences made more conflicts arise • Conflict about power of • Pope (in west) and • Emperor (in east)

  36. The Western Church- Roman Catholic 1. Centered in Rome 2. Far from the seat of government power once the capital moved to Constantinople 3. Services conducted in Latin

  37. The Western Church- Roman Catholic 4. The pope had authority over all other bishops 5. The pope had authority over all kings and emperors 6. Priests cannot marry and must remain celibate 7. Divorce is not permitted

  38. The Eastern Church – Greek/Eastern Orthodox 1. Centered in Constantinople 2. Close to seat of government power once capital moved to Constantinople 3. Services conducted in Greek or local languages

  39. The Eastern Church – Eastern Orthodox 4. The patriarch and other bishops head the church as a group 5. The emperor claimed authority over the patriarch and other bishops of the Byzantine Empire 6. Priests may be married 7. Divorce is allowed under certain conditions

  40. The Great Schism In 1054, the split between the Eastern and Western Churches was made permanent when the Pope (in the West) and the Patriarch (in the East) excommunicated each other. • Excommunication – definition: cast out from the church • This permanent split was called the schism

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