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The Byzantine Empire
Essential Vocabulary:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Byzantine Empire
Justinian
Constantine
Germanic invaders
Visigoth Kingdom
Frankish Kingdom
Peninsula
Autocrat
9. Justinian’s Code
10. Hagia Sophia
11. Icons
12. Mosaics
13. Schism
14. Ottoman Empire
15. Cyrillic alphabet
16. Czar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWa8vOjmiMs
The Byzantine Empire
The Roman empire, divided in the late AD200’s, was
weakened by internal and external forces. Power
shifted to the East, as Germanic invaders weakened
the western half of the once great Roman empire.
By 330, the emperor Constantine, had built a new capital
city in Constantinople on the site of the Greek city
Byzantium. The Byzantine empire arose from this site.
The Byzantine Empire
During the Reign of Justinian
At its height,
the
Byzantine
empire
covered an
area from
Rome
through
southeastern
Europe and
Asia Minor,
down to
Egypt and
across North
Africa.
The city of Constantinople, was on a peninsula overlooking
the Bosporus, a strait connecting the Black Sea to the
Mediterranean Sea. From its central location, the city
controlled key trade routes that liked Europe and Asia.
The Byzantine empire reached its peak under the
emperor Justinian. Justinian was a autocratic ruler,
or single ruler with complete authority.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D50IUZPGPqg
Emperor Justinian became known for his collection of ancient
laws known as Justinian’s Code. This written set of laws
became the basis today’s international laws.
• Justinian blended Greek, Roman, Persian and
Middle Eastern architecture
• The best known structure is the Church of Hagia
Sophia whose name means “Holy Wisdom”
In the area of art, the Byzantine empire made great
contributions. Icons were images of Jesus, the Virgin
Mary and others. These icons were supposed the
create the sense that the holy person was actually
present.
Byzantine artists also developed Mosaics, pictures or
designs formed by inlaid pieces of stone or other
materials. Mosaics often displayed religious themes.
In 1054, permanent split or schism occurred between the
Orthodox Christian Church in the East and the Roman
Catholic Church in the West.
End of the Byzantine Empire
• The Byzantine Empire finally fell in 1453,
after an Ottoman Turkish army stormed
Constantinople during the reign of
Constantine XI.
Decline of the Byzantine Empire
• Utilize map book page 46
1. What time period did the Byzantine
Empire exist?
2. What year did Constantinople get captured
by the Ottoman Turks?
3. Why did the Byzantine Empire have so
many enemies like the Arabs and the
Turks?
Roman Catholicism v. Eastern
Schism – 1054 AD Orthodox
• Roman Catholicism –
In West
 Centered in Rome
 Priests were celibate
 Latin used in services
 Supported use of icons
 Headed by Pope
 Becomes Roman
Catholic Church
• Eastern Orthodox –
In East
Centered in
Constantinople
Priests could marry
Greek used in
services
Forbid use of icons
Headed by Patriarch
Becomes Eastern
Orthodox Church
Patriarch
POPE
Byzantine missionaries carried Orthodox Christianity to
Russia and other Eastern European nations.
The decline of the Byzantine empire came with the onset
of invading armies. The final blow came at the hands of
the Ottoman empire in 1453.
Byzantine Contributions
The Byzantine empire hoped to preserve Greek and Roman
culture and also strongly influenced the first Russian state.
As Russia traded with the Byzantine empire, the Byzantines
influenced both Russian and eastern European
development.
• The Byzantine empire had its influence in the
development of history. Emerging out of the once
strong Roman empire, the Byzantines develop a
written set of law and strongly influence art and
architecture of the time.
• The Byzantine empire preserved the Greek,
Roman and Persian achievements as well as
influencing the development of Russia and
Eastern Europe.
The Byzantines gave Russia a written language. Two
Byzantine missionaries adapted the Greek alphabet This
new system, called the Cyrillic alphabet is still used in
Russia today.
Cyrillic Alphabet spread Christianity
• Byzantine monks traditionally spread Christianity.
• Most famous was Cyril, traveled Slavic regions of
Eastern Europe.
• Gained followers and made major contribution of
Cyrillic alphabet.
• Most Slavs were illiterate so he designed an
alphabet based on Greek and their language.
• Cyrillic alphabet – based loosely on Greek
alphabet; still used in parts of Europe
Another Byzantine influence on Russia was that of an
autocratic ruler. Autocratic rulers in Russia were known
as czars. Czar is the Russian word for Caesar.
Personal Reflection:
• How do you think the split in the church
may affect the long term cultural
differences in the east and the west?