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After the Fall of Rome:
THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
Recap: Fall of Rome
 Western Roman
Empire weakened
by…
 Odoacer (barbarian
general) invades
Rome & makes self
king in 476 C.E.
Video: Inside Byzantium
 What religions or cultures did the Byzantine





Empire borrow from?
What was the capital of the Byzantine
Empire?
What was the Hagia Sophia?
What country was later influenced by the
Byzantine Empire?
What were the Crusades?
Who defeated the Byzantine Empire and
when?
Introduction
 Eastern Roman Empire  Byzantine Empire
 “Byzantine” – from city of Byzantium
 Renamed Constantinople by Constantine (300’s)
 Later renamed Istanbul by Turks (after 1453)
 Official language: Greek
 Religion: Orthodox Christianity
 Culture: blend of Greek, Roman, Persian
Constantine (ruled ~306-337)
 Reunited Roman Empire after defeating
Western Roman Emperor
 Converted to Christianity & stopped
persecuting Christians
 Moved capital to Constantinople
 Passed reforms in Roman Empire
 New, more stable money (the solidus)
 Reorganized government & military
Constantinople
 New capital of Empire founded by
Constantine because it was…
 Easier to defend
 Located along many trade routes
 Video: Engineering an Empire – Byzantines
(12:50-20:10)
 Formerly known as Byzantium
 Currently known as Istanbul
Theodosius (378-395)
 Last emperor to “officially” rule over both
halves of Roman Empire
 Made Christianity official religion of Roman
Empire
 Passed laws against pagan (i.e. non-Christian)
religions
 Made a saint Orthodox Christianity
Justinian (527-565)
 Married Theodora (burlesque dancer)
 Persecuted non-Christians & passed “morality
laws”
 Tried to reconquer western part of Roman
Empire
 Raised taxes & “squeezed” people for money
 People rioted in Hippodrome, Theodora
persuaded Justinian not to flee, & put down rebels
Justinian (527-565)
 Military conquests successful, but also
bankrupted empire
 Hagia Sophia – “Church of Holy Wisdom”
 Corpus Juris Civilis (Code of Justinian)
 Collection of laws written during Roman Empire
 Basis of modern civil law (written & collected laws)
Byzantine Empire Weakens
 Invasions (Arabs, Turks, Russians, Crusaders,




etc.)
Ignored own military & relied on mercenaries
Crusades (Sack of Constantinople in 4th
Crusade)
Civil wars
Weak emperors
Downfall & Legacy
 Fall of Constantinople (1453)
 Mehmed II & Ottoman Turks laid siege to city
 Broke through walls using cannons
 Constantine XI (last Byzantine Emperor) died
defending city
 Legacy of Byzantine Empire
 Protected Western Europe from eastern invaders
[for a time]
 Influences on art, architecture, & religion still seen
today