Download Rise of the Byzantines - Fall13-OR-01

R ISE OF THE B YZANTINES
O BJECTIVES

Identify the many achievements made by the
Romans in government, law, language, and the
arts

Learn how the Eastern Roman (Byzantine)
Empire, grew rich and powerful as the Western
Roman Empire fell apart

Discuss how the policies of Justinian and
Theodora made the Byzantine Empire strong

Describe Byzantine culture, which was based on
Roman, Greek, and Christian ideas
I NTRODUCTION
In the chat pod, give me
one interesting
word?
Latin, the language of ancient
Rome, is the root for about 60%
of the words in the English
language! In what other ways
have the Romans left their mark
on the World today? Let’s find
out!
B ACKGROUND

Poor leadership, a declining economy, and attacks by
Germanic tribes weakened the Roman Empire until
Rome fell to invaders

Diocletian and Constantine attempted reforms to save
the Empire

Constantine moved the capital of the empire from
Rome to Constantinople (Byzantium in Greece)

The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, grew rich and
powerful as the Western Roman Empire fell apart
L EGACY

OF
R OME
Rome has influenced today’s world in many
areas

Law

Government

Language

Building techniques

Architecture

Spread of Christianity
Poll Question!!
R ISE
OF THE
B YZANTINES

The Eastern Roman Empire became the Byzantine Empire

The location of its capital city, Constantinople, helped to make it
safe from invaders and accessible to trade

Located on a peninsula

Wall built to protect against invaders

Located on trade route between Black and Aegean Seas

Greeks were the largest group, but Byzantines also included
Egyptians, Syrians, Arabs, Armenians, Jews, Persians, Slavs, and
Turks

Roman culture was initially very strong, but was eventually
replaced with Greek and then a mixture of cultural ideas
E MPEROR J USTINIAN

The policies and reforms of Emperor Justinian
and his wife, Empress Theodora, helped make
the Byzantine Empire strong

Theodora helped gain more rights for women

Justinian strengthened the military to attempt to
reunite the two Roman Empires

Justinian simplified laws to make them easier to
understand
C ULTURE OF THE
B YZANTINES
Mosaics- picture Watch Video
made from many bits
of colored glass, tile,

or stone
Byzantines developed a rich culture based on Roman,
Greek, and Christian ideas
Saint- Christian holy
person

Became a center for silk production after silkworms were
smuggled out of China

Trade made Byzantine Empire wealthy

Byzantine Empire was the center of trade between
Europe and Asia
Emperors supported the arts and building of churches,
forts, and other public buildings

The religious center of the empire, the church Hagia
Sophia, features mosaics of saints
Poll Question!!
S OCIAL L IFE OF B YZANTINES
Regent- person who
acts as a temporary
ruler

Family was the center of social life


Education was highly respected


Women gained rights and some even became
Regents
Boys went to school to learn religion, law,
medicine, math, reading
Authors wrote about religion and copied many
works of the ancient Romans and Greeks
Poll Question!!
R EVIEW

Roman influence is seen today in government, law,
language, and the arts

The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, grew rich
and powerful as the Western Roman Empire fell
apart

The policies of Justinian and Theodora made the
Byzantine Empire strong

Byzantine culture was based on Roman, Greek, and
Christian ideas
F OLLOW
UP
A CTIVITY

With the permission of your Learning Coach,
conduct a web search for “Mosaics of Hagia
Sophia” images

For extra credit, webmail me an image of a
mosaic from Hagia Sophia