Download The Early Byzantine Period: The `First Golden Age

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Byzantine Empire
Directions: Read, annotate and answer the summary question
Focus question: How were the Roman and Byzantine Empires similar to
and different from one another?
The Early Byzantine Period: The 'First Golden Age' of Byzantium (324-730)
In 330 A.D., the first Christian ruler of the Roman Empire, Constantine the Great (306–
337), transferred the ancient imperial capital from Rome to the city of Byzantium located
on the easternmost territory of the European continent, at a major intersection of eastwest trade. The emperor renamed this ancient port city Constantinople ("the city of
Constantine") in his own honor; it was also called the "New Rome," owing to the city's
new status as political capital of the Roman empire. The Christian, ultimately Greekspeaking state ruled from that city would come to be called Byzantium by modern
historians, although the empire's medieval citizens described themselves as "Rhomaioi,"
Romans, and considered themselves the inheritors of the ancient Roman empire.
One of the advantages of Constantine's new capital was that it was on an easily fortified
peninsula; as it was closer to the dangerous frontiers of the empire than Rome, imperial
armies could respond more rapidly to crises. The strategic location of the city enabled
merchants there to grow rich through their control over the trade routes between Europe
and the East and the shipping lanes connecting the Black and Mediterranean Seas.
Constantine lavished on his new capital a university, two theaters, eight public and fiftythree private baths, fifty-two covered walkways, four law courts, fourteen churches, and
fourteen palaces. He imported staggering quantities of the best Greco-Roman art from
throughout the empire. This infusion helped the art of the Early Byzantine period to
remain close to its Greco-Roman heritage in its naturalism and classical subject matter.
In the Early Byzantine period, Byzantium's educated elite used Roman law, and Greek
and Roman culture, to maintain a highly organized government centered on the court and
its great cities. So it was that the empire continued to be ruled by Roman law and
political institutions, with the elite communicating officially in Latin, yet the population,
now Christian, also spoke Greek. In school students studied the ancient Greek and
Roman classics of literature, philosophy, science, medicine, art, and rhetoric. The church,
which developed its own literature and philosophy, nonetheless looked favorably upon
the intellectual tradition of classical scholarship. An incalculable benefit of this system
was that often only that part of classical Greek and Roman literature preserved in
Byzantine schoolbooks has survived into modern times.
Considered the representative of Christ by his subjects, the emperor of Byzantium was an
absolute ruler. He centered his government at his palace and had thousands of educated
bureaucrats throughout the empire carrying out imperial legislation and operations,
including the tax and justice systems. This administration was unique in its efficiency.
Ceremonials, held by both the male court of the emperor and the female court of the
empress, sumptuously punctuated all state occasions, including imperial coronations,
marriages, births, and birthdays; the promotion of officials; the reception of ambassadors;
and the celebration of triumphs. On holy days the court magnificently processed to
churches. These occasions of elaborate pomp not only put the internal structure of the
court on stage, with the precise ranks of officials marked by their silk costume, but also
presented to the public an idealized image of the Byzantine state in harmonious order.
At the Eastern Empire's greatest expanse during the sixth century, the emperor Justinian
(483-565) controlled most of the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. He was an
ambitious builder, his greatest monument being the magnificent domed church of Hagia
Sophia (Holy Wisdom), which was constructed in just five years. Despite the territorial
gains of the emperor Justinian I in the sixth century, many of the empire's Italian
provinces were overtaken by Lombards in the late 500s. In the 600s, Persian and Arab
invasions devastated much of Byzantium's eastern territories.
Several shining examples of secular architecture survive from these early centuries,
including vestiges of an atrium in the Great Palace in Constantinople, decorated with a
lavish mosaic program representing daily life and the riches of the empire. Also surviving
from the capital are the remains of two aristocratic homes, the palaces of Antiochus and
of Lausos. Other great ancient cities of the empire, including Antioch and Ephesos, also
preserve remains from this secular building tradition. For church architecture in the early
Byzantine period, domed churches, the most important being Constantinople's Church of
Hagia Sophia, and other domed sacred buildings began to appear in greater number
alongside traditional basilica forms, first seen in the large-scale churches sponsored by
Emperor Constantine I in the early fourth century. In the 700s and early 800s, the
Iconoclastic controversy raged over the proper use of religious images, resulting in the
destruction of icons in all media, especially in the capital of Constantinople.
Constantinople's most important sporting venue was the hippodrome, which became the
center and focal point of many Byzantines' lives. All citizens, regardless of occupation or
social status, were eligible to receive a token to see the games free of charge. This
stadium, built along the lines of a Roman circus, had not only social implications, but
also political and religious significance, for it was located close to the royal palace and
cathedral of Hagia Sophia. Although smaller than the Circus Maximus in Rome, it could
still accommodate about 100,000 people. Septimius Severus built the first hippodrome in
the third century CE, but it was Constantine I in the fourth century who reconstructed it
into the famous stadium, with its elaborate marble seats, that became the center for
entertainment and riots for centuries. This arena for chariot racing had close links with
the administration of the city, witnessing state ceremonies, political assemblies, and
processions. On the day of the races, the emperor entered the stadium dressed in imperial
robes, carrying the lighted candle that he had used in prayers in his private chapel. He
alone granted permission to hold the games and dropped the white napkin as a signal for
the events to begin. In general, the Byzantines discouraged women from attending the
games.
Middle Byzantium Period
(843–1204). The resolution of the Iconoclastic controversy
in favor of the use of icons (images to represent Chrisitianity) ushered in a second
flowering of the empire. Greek became the official language of the Byzantine state and
church, and Christianity spread from Constantinople throughout the Slavic lands to the
north.
The Late Byzantine Period (1261-1453) The period known as the Late Byzantine lasted
from 1261 until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks. The looting of
Constantinople in 1204 was an irretrievable disaster for the Byzantines. With its territory
and resources continually shrinking, Byzantium was never again able to fully quell
internal disorders or to exercise independence from outside powers.
Adapted from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/byza/hd_byza.htm
Summary question: How were the Roman and Byzantine Empires similar to and
different from one another? Create a venn diagram comparing the empires.
Roman Empire
Most people spoke Latin
Controlled trade routes around the
Mediterranean
Both
Byzantine Empire
Official language was Latin
Most people spoke Greek
Rich from trade
Heavily fortified
Greco-Roman architecture
Controlled trade routes around
Mediterranean and Black Seas
Legal system based on Roman law
Pagan then Christian
Bureaucracy
Emperor seen as a representative of
Christ
Education based on ancient Greek and
Roman classics
Justinian conquered most but not all
land on controlled by the Roman Empire
Ruled as an autocracy (absolute ruler)
Emperors controlled their image
“Bread & Circus” at the Coliseum
“Bread and Circus”
Helped to spread Christianity
“Bread & Circus” at the Hippodrome