Download 11.1 The Byzantine Empire - Doral Academy Preparatory

11.1 The Byzantine Empire
After Rome split, the Eastern
Empire, known as Byzantium,
flourishes for a thousand years.
OVERVIEW OF The
Byzantine Empire
•The Byzantine Empire with territory in the Balkans, the
Middle East, and the eastern Mediterranean, maintained very
high levels of political, economic, and cultural life between
500 and 1450 C.E.
•The Byzantine Empire, once part of the greater Roman
Empire continued flourishing from an eastern Mediterranean
base after Roman decline
•The empire continued many Roman patterns and spread its
Orthodox Christian civilization through most off eastern
Europe.



Germanic invaders
pounded the Roman
empire in the west
Huns – Group of
nomadic tribes that
pushed through
central Europe in the
4th and 5th c.
instigating the
migration of the
Germanic tribes into
the Roman Empire
Most emperors that
were conquered
moved their empire
back in the east
Remember……
A New Rome in a New Setting

The Eastern Roman Empire
• Roman Empire officially divides into East and
West in 395.
• Eastern Empire flourishes; becomes known as
Byzantium
• Justinian becomes emperor of Byzantium in
527.
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His armies re-conquer much of the former Roman
territory.
Byzantine emperors head state and church, use
brutal politics (MUCH LIKE ROME)
Byzantine Empire-(Eastern Roman Empire)
Life in the New Rome

New Laws for the Empire
• Justinian seeks to revise and update
laws for governing the empire
• Justinian Code—new set of laws
consisting of four main parts
1.
2.
3.
4.
CODE
DIGEST
INSITUTES
NOVELLAE (NEW LAWS)
• Code regulates much of Byzantine life;
lasts for 900 years.
The Age of Justinian 527-565
Byzantine empire
reached greatest size
Wanted to recover what
had been lost during the
fall of Rome
Re-conquered N. Africa,
Italy and southern Spain
– Victories were temporary
•Justinian rebuilt
Constantinople in classical
style; among the architectural
achievements was the huge
church of Hagia Sophia
The Height of the Byzantine Empire
JUSTINIAN’s MAIN GOAL

Creating the Imperial Capital
• Justinian launches a program to
beautify the capital, Constantinople.
• Constructs new buildings; builds
magnificent church, Hagia Sophia.
• Byzantines preserve Greco-Roman
culture and learning.
HAGIA SOPHIA
Constantine’s Hectic Pace
• City becomes trading hub with major
marketplace.
• Giant Hippodrome offers chariot races
and other entertainment.
• Racing fans start riots in 532; the
government restores order violently.
• Empress Theodora is the powerful wife
and adviser to Justinian.
The Church Divides

A Religious Split
• Christianity develops differently in Eastern and
Western Roman Empires.
• Two churches disagree over many issues,
including the use of icons.

Icons are two-dimensional religious images used to
aid in prayer.
• Leading bishop of Eastern Christianity is known
as a Patriarch.
• In the West, the pope excommunicates the
emperor, banishing him from the church over
the iconoclast controversy.
During Middle Ages
Dispute over use of icons (Holy Images)
contributed to split
Byzantine Emperor outlawed prayer to icons
Two branches of Christianity grew further
apart
1054 provoked a permanent split between
Byzantine, Eastern (Greek) Orthodox and
Roman Catholic Church
Iconoclasm – The breaking of images; religious
controversy of the 8th c. Byzantine emperor
attempted, but failed to suppress icon veneration
CHRISTIANS BUT DIFFERENCES
DIVIDED!!!
****Divisions in the Church
West
Pope in Rome
Latin Language
Most important holy
day Christmas
East, Constantinople
Patriarch in the
Byzantine-rejected
Pope’s authority
Clergy could marry
Greek Language
Most important holy
day Easter
Compare churches…..
•The final break between the two churches occurred in 1054 over
arguments about the type of bread used in the mass and the
celibacy of priests
The Empire Falls

Years of Turmoil after his death
• Justinian dies in 565; the empire faces
many crises after his death. (Plague
breaks out prior to his death)

Attacks from East and West
• Byzantium faces attacks from many
different groups.
• Empire survives through bribery,
diplomacy, and military power.
• Constantinople falls in 1453; brings an
end to the Byzantine Empire.
• Pope and patriarch excommunicate each
other over religious doctrines and
disputes over jurisdiction.
• Eastern and Western churches officially
split in 1054.
• West—Roman Catholic Church
• East—Orthodox Church
`
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Byzantine Missionaries Convert the
Slavs
• Eastern Orthodox missionaries seek to
convert the northern peoples known as
the Slavs.
• Missionaries create the Cyrillic
alphabet—the basis for many Slavic
languages.
• Alphabet enables many groups to read
the Bible, named after Saint Cyril.
11.2 The Russian
Empire
Russia grows out of a blending of
Slavic and Byzantine cultures and
adopts Eastern Orthodox
traditions.
Russia’s Birth

Emergence of Russian Culture
• Byzantium trades with Slavs—groups
living north of the Black Sea.
• Eventually Slavic and Greek traditions
produce Russian culture.

Geography of Russia
• Russian territory: west of Ural
Mountains, and Black Sea to Baltic Sea
• Forests in north, hilly grasslands in
south, three great rivers
Russia’s Birth

Slavs and Vikings
• In the 800s, Vikings settle among Slavs,
and move to Kiev
• Vikings and Slavs mix cultures and
become one.
Russia’s Birth

Kiev Becomes Orthodox
• Princess Olga of Kiev visits
Constantinople and converts to
Christianity
• Her grandson, Vladimir, becomes leader
of Kiev around 980
• In 989, Vladimir has all Kiev citizens
baptized in the Dnieper River
• Beliefs and traditions of Orthodox
Christianity flourish in Kiev
Kiev’s Power and Decline

Kievan Russia
• Vladimir expands Russia into Poland,
and north to the Baltic Sea.
• Vladimir’s son, Yaroslav the Wise, rules
Kiev in 1019.
• Forges alliances, creates legal code, and
builds churches.
Kiev’s Power and Decline

Kiev’s Decline
• Yaroslav divides realm between his
sons, which causes a civil war.
• Kiev’s commerce in further weakened
by the Crusades

The Crusades are a clash between Christians
and Muslims over the Holy Land.
The Mongol Invasions
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The Mongols
• Mongols, nomads from central Asia,
begin conquests in the early 1200s.
• Kiev falls in 1240 to Genghis Khan’s
grandson, Batu Khan.
• Mongols rule much of Russia for the
next 200 years.
The Mongol Invasions

Mongol Rule in Russia
• Mongols give Russians many freedoms,
but demand obedience and tribute.
• Russian nobles such as Alexander
Nevsky support the Mongols.
• Mongol rule isolates Russia from the
rest of Europe.
Russia Breaks Free

The Rise of Moscow
• Moscow is founded in the 1100s, located
near Russia’s three main rivers.

Moscow’s Powerful Princes
• Moscow's princes grow strong under
Mongol rule throughout the 1300s.
Russia Breaks Free

An Empire Emerges
• Late in the 1400, Ivan III becomes
prince of Moscow and challenges Mongol
rule.
• He takes the name “czar,” Russian for
“Caesar,” and vows to restore Russia.
• Russian and Mongol armies face off at
Ugra River in 1480.
• Both armies retreat and Russia gains
freedom from Mongol rule.