Download 09. ByzantineCulture

Byzantine Culture
~ The Preservation of Greco-Roman Heritage
Change (∆) & Revolution
Spring Semester
Mrs. Huff
Overview of Today’s Presentation
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Introduction ~ Role of the Cyrillic Alphabet
Art
Architecture
Spices
Roman Law
Causes of the Decline of the Byzantine Empire
Introduction ~ The Cyrillic Alphabet
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Due to the location of Constantinople, the Byzantine
Empire frequently had contact with its neighbors to the
north and east.
The people that lived there in central and eastern Europe
were Slavic and did not have a written language.
Two brothers, Cyril and Methodius, were missionaries that
taught the Slavs to read and write by creating a new,
“Cyrillic” alphabet.
Cyrillic remains the foundation for the modern Russian
alphabet.
Modern Russian
Cyril & Methodius traveling to central and eastern Europe to spread
the Christian word and teach the Slavs to read and write was an example
of cultural diffusion. What aspects of Greco-Roman culture do you see in
the Cyrillic alphabet?
Ss. Cyril and Methodius
• Cyril & Methodius
converted many Slavs to
Christianity. Descendents
of these converts still
follow the Eastern
Orthodox faith.
•Cyril & Methodius are
recognized as saints today
both by the Roman
Catholic Church as well as
the Eastern Orthodox
Church.
Byzantine Art
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Byzantine art was
completely devoted to
religion.
Religious murals covered
the walls and ceilings of
churches, while mosaics
covered the floors, walls
and arches.
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The location of a person’s image indicated that
person’s importance in church doctrine.
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Jesus always occupied the dome of the church
Paintings and mosaics were used to create icons, or
holy pictures that Byzantines revered.
Byzantine art was a reaction to Greek art. Meaning,
Byzantine art was not very realistic. It was stiff or
artificial.
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This is because their goal was not to demonstrate realism,
rather to inspire reverence and to emphasize the
importance of renouncing pleasure in this life to prepare
for the afterlife.
Hagia Sophia ~ Church of “Holy
Wisdom”
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Byzantines excelled in religious
architecture.
The best example of this is
Hagia Sophia located in
Constantinople.
Ordered to be built in 532 by
Justinian.
Included an interior that
glittered from the sunlight,
murals, mosaics and extensive
metalworking. A golden altar
was inlaid with precious stones.
Interior of Hagia Sophia
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A huge dome (diameter
108’) dominates the
structure.
Columns instead of
walls support the dome,
giving it a massive
open feeling.
This marked the first
time that a round dome
was placed on a
rectangular building.
Hagia Sophia Today
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When Constantinople was
captured by the Turks in
1453 Hagia Sophia became
a mosque (Muslim house
of worship).
Today it is owned by the
state and is operated as a
museum.
Ark of the Covenant
Constantine
Jonah Swallowed and Jonah Cast Up, 3rd
century, Early Christian
loculi
Good Shepard, Orants, Story of Jonah, 4th
Century, Early Christian
Orants
Detail – Christ Giving the Law
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
Early Christian House-Church
Byzantine Periods
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Early Byzantine
Period – associated
with Justinian I
Middle Byzantine
Period – worship of
icons accepted again
Late Byzantine
Period – 1261-1453
Late Byzantine Art
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1261-1453
New style in art –
church liturgy
important
Use of trompe l’oeil in
the churches
David the Psalmist, Paris Psalter, 10th
century, Byzantine
Emperor Justinian and his wife
Empress Theodora
Early Jewish Art
Council of Nicaea
Preservation of Roman Law
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One of the Byzantine’s
greatest contributions to
civilization was the
preservation of Roman
law.
Justinian had ordered his
scholars to collect and
organize all of the laws of
the Roman Empire.
Justinian’s Code of Laws
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Justinian’s Code of Laws has four parts:
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The entire collection is called the Corpus Juris Civilis
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1 ~ The Code
2 ~ The Digest
3 ~ The Institutes
4 ~ The Novels
Spices
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Throughout the years spices
have played an important role in
many important societies.
Black pepper was first grown on
the western coast of India and
was brought to Europe by trades
who passed through the markets
of Constantinople.
Some rulers collect pepper as
tribute, while other societies
actually used pepper as money.
By the 1400s spices from the
East were in great demand in
Europe, thus bringing greater
numbers of people through
Constantinople.
Decline of the
Empire
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During the 1000s, the Saljuq Turks
from Central Asia captured most of
Asia Minor.
In 1096, Constantinople appealed for
help from the West, but in
1204 the Crusaders turned on the
Byzantines and captured
Constantinople. The westerners ruled
for about 50 years.
The Byzantine Empire again existed
but was no longer powerful.
The Ottoman Turks
• During the 1300s the Ottoman Turks
rose to power in the region and by 1453
were able to conquer the city of
Constantinople.
• The Ottoman Turks effectively ruled
the region of Asia Minor from 1453 until
their collapse following World War I in
1919.