Byzantium 400ce-1476 ce

1. Byzantium 400ce-1476 ce

2. The Roman Empire Divided in 294

3. Constantine’s City--Constantinopolis Built in 330ce New capital of Roman Empire

4. Constantinople: A Greek City(Istanbul Today)

5. What factors caused the Western Roman Empire to collapse in 476 ce? • Disease ( 2nd century ce went from 60 – 45 million) or reduced by 25% • Internal struggles235 ce- 284ce 26 people claimed the throne • Barbarian invasions ( Huns pressured Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals into Roman lands • Sheer size of the empire

6. Barbarian Invasions of the Roman Empire

7. During the sack of Constantinople 1204, crusaders stole Byzantine treasures that now stand over the entrance to St. Marks’s Basilica in Venice ( Conflict)

8. Emperor Justinian [r. 527-564] Why is Justinian important? • his wife Theodora • His public works( rebuilt Const. & Hagia Sophia • Justinian Code

9. Empress Theodora • Strip tease artist before marrying Theodora • Active advisor in politics, diplomacy, & theology

10. Justinian’s Empire at its Peak

11. Church of Hagia Sophia [Holy Wisdom]

12. Interior of the Church of Hagia Sophia

13. Justinian’s Code Body of the Civil law: 1. Codified all Roman law 2. Served as the legal inspiration for 1000 years 3. Influenced law codes throughout Europe

14. Byzantine Administration • Theme System-placed an imperial province under the jurisdiction of a general • Generals gave plots of land in exchange for military service

15. Greek Fire “Byzantine Secret Weapon” • incendiary weapon used by the Byzantines • Helped save the Byzantines from 2 Arab sieges

16. Byzantine & Sassanid Empires, 6c

17. Icons and the Iconoclastic Controversy (Religion) Iconoclasm is a Greek word meaning image breaking, opposition to the religious use of images. Veneration of pictures and statues symbolizing sacred figures, Christian doctrine, and biblical events was an early feature of Christian worship. The humanity of Christ was increasingly emphasized, and images and crucifixes became common. Opponents of their use claimed they led to idolatry. The iconoclastic controversy stimulated Byzantine artists to strive for spiritual revelation in religious art rather than for naturalistic representation. The churches of the Orthodox Eastern Church are generally decorated only with flat pictures, bas-reliefs, and mosaics.

18. The Great Schism 1054

19. The Great Crossroads Strange as it may seem, the collapse of the Western Empire had immediate beneficial effects on the Eastern Empire. For centuries the wealthy east had been supporting the poor west. However, after 476 the situation changed dramatically and the Eastern Roman Empire could keep all its riches to itself. But why was the Eastern Roman Empire so rich ? If you look at the map you can see that Constantinople was at the centre of four major trade routes: To the north lay the Black Sea and what we would now call Russia and the Ukraine. From here came products such as iron, timber and animal furs (especially the very valuable sable). To the west lay the rest of Europe from which Byzantium obtained cereals, wine, flax (to make linen) and animal hides to make leather. To the south lay Africa and especially Egypt. The Nile valley still produced enormous quantities of food as it had done in pharaonic times. It also supplied gold and copper and precious ivory from more southern regions. To the east lay the most important trade route of all. From Arabia came valuable perfumes, from Persia expensive carpets, from India spices and precious stones (especially rubies and emeralds) and from China came silk.

20. Why did the Byzantine Empire finally collapse? • Social Problems- aristocratic families rebelled against imperial gov, and the theme system failed • Attacks from the West ( 4th crusade) • Attacks from the East (Saljuqs & later the Ottomans • Loss of the “Bread Basket” Anatolia • fall of constantinople