Download The Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire and
Russia
The Rome of the East
312-1453
Constantinople: The New Rome
• With the collapse of its western half, the Roman
Empire was restricted to Eastern Europe
• The fall of Rome to the Ostrogoths in 476 marked
the end of the western half of the Roman Empire
• The eastern half continued as the Byzantine
Empire, with Constantinople as its capital.
• Constantine wanted this city to be built from
scratch as the center of the Christian world. He
and his following emperors made Constantinople
into one of the most elaborate and civilized cities
in the world.
The Origins
• 292: Diocletian divides
the Roman empire into
two.
• 324: Constantine reunites
the two parts
• 330: Constantine builds
a new capital in the
location of ancient
Byzantium
• 337: The death of
Constantine results in
division between east and
west.
City of Constantinople
Constantinople
• Successive emperors
build strong walls,
palaces, churches,
gardens, aquaducts
and made the city the
biggest, strongest and
most enlightened city
of medieval
Christendom
The Walls of Theodosius
The Fall of Rome
• Barbarian tribes keep
pushing into a fragmented
and weakened Roman
Empire.
• The east through bribery,
diplomacy and better
military resists effectively
• 476: Rome Falls
• 491: Anastasius I: His
competent rule
reorganizes the east.
Financial strength and
administative success.
The Last Legion
Differences from the West
• They spoke Greek not Latin
• The didn’t dress in togas. Instead they wore
Greek clothing
• Had somewhat different religious practices
from Western Christians
• Broke with Pope over Monophosite heresy
• Highly fortified city of Constantinople was
impervious to assault
Justinian the Great
• Justinian was perhaps the last emperor who
tried re-conquering the west.
• Justinian, however, is most famous for the
body of laws Justinians Code
• Justinian is also credited for founding
Byzantine architecture with his building of
the Santa Sophia (Hagia Sophia)
• Married an actress Theodora
• Ruled during the great plague
The Reign of Justinian
• The height of the first period of Byzantine history (324-632)
was the reign of Emperor Justinian (r. 537-565) and his wife
Empress Theodora (d. 548)
The Imperial Goal: Unity
• The imperial goal
in the East was to
centralize
government and
impose legal and
doctrinal
conformity.
One God
One Empire
One Religion
st
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Method: Law
• Justinian collated and revised
Roman law. His Corpus
Juris Civilis (body of civil
law) had little effect on
medieval common law.
However, beginning with the
Renaissance, it provided the
foundation for most
European law down to the
19th century.
Code of Justinian
• The Codex Justinianus (529)
compiled all of the laws from the
time of Emperor Hadrian.
Contained over 5000 laws.
• The Digest,was issued in 533, and
was a greater achievement: it
compiled the writings of the
greatest Roman legal minds along
with current edicts.
Code Continued
• The Institutes was intended as sort of
legal textbook for law schools. Later,
Justinian issued a number of other laws,
mostly in Greek, which were called
Novels
• It was made up of the current law of the
time, and a turning point in Roman
Law: from then on the sometimes
contradictory case law of the past was
transformed into an ordered legal
system.
2nd Method: Religion
• Religion as well as
law served imperial
centralization. In 380,
Christianity had been
proclaimed the official
religion of the eastern
empire. Now all other
religions were
considered “demented
and insane.”
• "Not since the world was made was
there . . . so much wealth as was
found in Constantinople. For the
Greeks say that two-thirds of the
wealth of this world is in
Constantinople and the other third
scattered throughout the world."
• --Robert of Clari, a French crusader who witnessed the
pillage of the city in 1204, describing Constantinople.
Hagia Sophia The Church of Holy
Wisdom
•
Justinian was an ambitious builder. His greatest monument was the
magnificent domed church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), which was
constructed in just five years (532- 537).
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Mosaic depicting Justinian (left) presenting model of church of Hagia Sophia to the Virgin Mary. Constantine
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to the right presents her with model of Constantinople
Riot in the Hippodrome
• Hippodrome-race
track
• Nica Rebellion
• Theodora’s speech
• Belisarius retakes the
city
• The Great Massacre
The Plague
• The bubonic variety is carried by fleas which live on
rodents, particularly the black rat. without modern
treatment it can result in death in 40 to 70 per cent of
its victims
• The plague moved from city to city in the empire. In
558 it returned to Constantinople for a new crop of
victims
• The plague brought a period of economic growth to
an end. One estimate suggests that the population of
the empire in 600 was only 60 per cent of what it was
in 500.
Justinian’s legacy
• Hagia Sophia remained the seat of Eastern
Christianity until the Fall of Constantinople.
• 552: Byzantine monks sneak silkworms and
mulbery out of China.
• Justinian orders the codification of Roman law
(Corpus Iuris Civilis).
• He was heavy-handed towards heresies
• In 529 he closed the philosophical school of
Athens, thus destroying the last stronghold of
paganism.
The Byzantine Empire after
Justinian
• No other Emperor can keep the Empire
together and the territories gained under
Justinian are once again lost.
• The Emperor becomes the head of the
Eastern Christian Church.
• Great Universities and centers of learning
were established
• New forms of art and architecture
included the use of domes and mosaics
New Weaponry
• Greek Fire
• Advanced
siege
weaponry
• Battering
rams
• Bridges
carried by
ships
Greek Fire
• Greek Fire was the secret weapon of the
Eastern Roman Emperors. It is said to
have been invented by a Syrian Engineer,
in the seventh century (673 AD)
• The "liquid fire" was hurled on to the
ships of their enemies from siphons and
burst into flames on contact. As it was
reputed to be inextinguishable and burned
even on water, it caused panic and dread.
Greek Fire Continued
Its introduction into warfare of its time was
comparable in its demoralizing influence to the
introduction of nuclear weapons in our time. The
secret behind the Greek fire was handed down
from one emperor to the next for centuries.
Rumors about its composition include such
chemicals as liquid petroleum, naphtha, burning
pitch, sulfur, resin, quicklime and bitumen,
along with some other "secret ingredient". The
exact composition, however, remains unknown
The Great Eastern Schism:Setting the
Stage for Division
• Byzantines used Greek language in Church
services unlike the Western Churches who used
Latin.
• Jealousy existed between East and West.
• They clashed over technical points regarding the
faith
• Ecumenical councils were called to settle the
arguments
• Who is the leader of the Church? Emperor or
Pope?
Independent Thinking
• Ideas thought to be heresies by the Roman
Catholic Church received imperial support:
– Arianism denied that Father and
Son were equal and coeternal.
– Monophysitism taught that Jesus
had only one nature, a composite
divine-human one.
– Iconoclasm forbid the use of
images (icons) because it led to
idolatry.
The Religious Battles
• Arianism was the first major heresy which threatened to
split the empire (4th-5th c.)
• In the age of Justinian Monophysitism won over the entire
orient and Egypt (6th-7th c.)
• The ambivalence of Monophysitic provinces towards the
center weakened Byzantine rule in Syria, Palestine and
Egypt.
• When these provinces were lost to the Arabs in the 7th
century, Orthodoxy prevailed.
• Then the more divisive Iconoclastic movement would tear
apart the Empire for the next two centuries (8th -9th).
• The political effects of Monophysitism and Iconoclasm
were detrimental.
The Christian Church
• Leader of the Christian Church
– Pope in the West
– Patriarch in the East
• Icons
– Many
• kept icons of Jesus, the Virgin Mary,
and saints
• Venerated/honored icons in churches
and homes
– vs. some…Iconoclasts
• believed keeping icons was wrong
• Icon=idols
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Iconoclastic Controversy
• Emperor Leo II ordered destruction of
icons.
• Many church leaders in West
condemned use of Icons.
• Pope called council of bishops to discuss
controversy.
– Heresy to NOT allow the use of Icons.
– Threatened Iconoclasts with
excommunication.
– Caused split between the Eastern and
Western Churches.
– Icons accepted later into Eastern Orthodox
Church.
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1054:The Split
• Many differences eventually led to the split mainly
the idea of Papal superiority and the social
differences that had emerged between each part of
the Christian Church.
• The Orthodox Church accused Rome of heresy
for “changing” the Creed.
• The Patriarch excommunicated the Pope and the
Pope Excommunicated the Patriarch and in 1054
the One Christian Church officially became two.
Differences Between East and West
1.The Eastern Church used the Greek language
and vernacular while the Western used Latin
only.
2.The Eastern Church used leavened bread for
the Eucharist while the Western used
unleavened bread.
3.The Western Church enforced celibacy for its
priests and religious while the Eastern Church
allowed its priests to marry.
4.The Western Church used the "filioque" while
the Eastern Church did not.
5.Pope the head of the Catholic Church while
all bishops have equal authority in the East
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Decline of the Byzantine
Empire
The Fall of Constantinople
• in 1204, the
Crusaders attacked,
conquered, and
pillaged the city of
Constantinople, a
goal that the Muslims
had been trying
achieve for centuries
Conquered by the Ottoman Turks
• In 1453, the city was
finally and
permanently
conquered by the
Ottoman Turks and
renamed Istanbul.
Byzantine culture,
law, and
administration came to
its final end.
Byzantine Influence Over Russia and Eastern
Europe
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Cyrillic alphabet created by Eastern Orthodox
monks for the Slavic language. It is based on
Greek, and still used through the various Slavic
countries today, such as Russia
Russian art and architecture is based on
Byzantine styles.
Eastern Orthodox Church became official
Church in Russia when king Vladimir was
converted and he had all of his subjects
converted as well
The Byzantine Empire and Russia became
great trading partners and they also pattered
their governing style after the Byzantines.
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The Geography of Russia
Russia’s varied climate zones helped shape early Russian life:
•
A band of fertile land in the south was home to
Russia’s first civilization.
•
The steppe provided a highway for nomads migrating
from Asia to Europe.
A network of rivers provided transportation for both people and
goods. Major rivers ran north to south, linking Russia to the
Byzantine world in the south.
The city of Kiev was located at the heart of the vital trade network
linking Vikings, Slavs, and Constantinople. Kiev would later become
the center of the first Russian state.
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Growth of Russia, 1330–1584
Russia: The Setting and People
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Located on large plain from E. Europe to C. Asia
South is grassy, treeless steppe
Rivers provide transportation link
Invaded at different times
– Slavs
• Were frequently enslaved; slavs=“slaves”
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Avars
Huns
Magyars
Vikings
• Mostly interested in trade
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Kievan Russia
• Rurik the Rus ruled over Slavic peoples
along Dnieper River.
– Ruler of Rus people who controlled trade with
Byzantine Empire
– Princes governed by councils of boyars
– Prince could call veche (town mtgs)
• Yaroslav the WisePravada Russkia
– Combined custom, traditions, & old laws
– Outlined lawful responses to crime
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Kievan Religion
• Traders and Greek missionaries brought
Christianity
• Vladimir I sent officials to Byzantine
Empire, converted to Christianity
– Beauty of Hagia Sophia
– Wanted to marry Anna, princess
• Ordered all citizens to convert to
Christianity
• Religious themes dominate culture
– Writing: hymns, sermons
– Art: Icons, mosaics, frescos
All reflected religious ideas and values
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• Russia under the Mongols
– Strong influence on Russia
• roads, communication, lang., customs, behavior
– Mongols wanted to gain from wealthy
resources
– Slavs allowed freedoms, taxed heavily
2
Effects of the Mongol Conquest
In the early 1200s, Mongol armies, led by Genghis Khan,
conquered Russia. The Mongols ruled Russia for 240 years.
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Kiev and other Russian towns were destroyed.
Many Russians were killed.
The Mongols tolerated the Russian Orthodox Church, which
grew more powerful.
Russians adopted Mongol practice of subjugating women.
Trade routes opened up between China and Eastern Europe.
Absolute power of the Mongols served as a model for later
Russian rulers.
Russia was cut off from Western Europe at an important
time.
The Rise of Moscow
• Princes in Moscow cooperated
with Mongols to gain
independence.
– Ivan I: Mongols gave title Great
Prince
– Leader of Eastern Orthodox Church
moved to Moscow
• Fall of Constantinople leads
Moscow to become “Third
Rome” and spiritual light to world
• Architecture reflected spiritually,
awe and wonder of people who
worshipped in Moscow
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Ivan The Great
• Ivan III. (1462-1505) Ivan the Great
• Ivan III: does not acknowledge power of
Mongol Kahn
• Tradition of absolute monarchy established in Russia
• 1440.
1505.
• Prince of Moscow. Founder of Modern
Russia.
• Marries niece of last Byzantine emperor.
• Adopts two-headed eagle. Takes title of ‘czar’
(tsar).
• Starts absolute rule: Limits power of boyars
(landowning nobles).
• Brings much of northern Russia under his
rule.
Ivan the Terrible
• Heir of Roman and Byzantine Empires
– Took title Czar (Caesar)
• Good Period
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Developed modernized legal code
Updated military, defended frontier
Opened trade with Western Europe
Sponsored settlement of Siberia
Ivan the Terrible…vs everyone else
• Bad Period
– Formed oprichniki
• Arrested boyars and gave land to supporters
• Terrorized countryside
– Known for cruel & unusual actions
• Mass executions of thousands
– members of boyars, church, and family
Key terms
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Byzantine Empire
Byzantium
Greek Fire
Code of Justinian
Patriarch
Great Schism
Icons
Orthodox
Cyrillic
Hippodrome
Creed
Kiev
Nika Rebellion
Pope
Ecumenical Council
Excommunicated
Key People
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Justinian
Theodora
Belasarius
Pope Leo III
Vladimir
Yaraslov the Wise
Genghis Khan
Ivan the Great
Ivan the Terrible