Download The Byzantine Empire & the Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Remains of the Roman Empire
THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE &
THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
WEAKENING OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
As the Roman Empire began to weaken, the
Emperor Constantine moved the capital city from
Rome to the city of Byzantium in 330 A.D. It was
known as the “New Rome,” but was later named
Constantinople. This city grew and prospered at
the crossroads to the East, but the Western
Roman Empire was not as lucky. As Germanic
tribes attacked the city of Rome, it fell, leaving the
Eastern city as the legacy of the Romans. This city
became the center of the Byzantine Empire.
CONSTANTINOPLE: A CROSSROADS
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Located on a peninsula
jutting into the Black
Sea toward Asia
Surrounded by water on
3 sides and fortified by
walls and watchtowers
across the land
Linked East and West
as central point of land
and sea trade routes
A WEALTHY CITY
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City’s location made it richest in the
Mediterranean for over 700 years
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Population over a million people
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Ivory, silks, furs, perfume luxuries traded
Culture a mix of Greek, Roman, and that of the
many travelers from three continents
Wealthy enjoyed their luxuries
Poor swept the cities streets to receive
bread handouts from the emperor
Technologically and culturally
advanced with sewer systems,
hospitals, entertainment, and church
THE REIGN OF JUSTINIAN
527 to 565 A.D.
Married to Theodora, a leader for her city
JUSTINIAN’S CONTRIBUTIONS
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Determined to rebuild the city
after a revolt by the people
Established public works
programs
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Built grand churches
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Built bridges, public baths,
parks, roads, and hospitals
Hagia Sophia
Launched military campaigns
to reclaim territory
JUSTINIAN’S CODE
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Systematic body of law
created by Justinian
 Encouraged
by Theodora
 Revised and updated Roman
codes
 Extended women’s rights
(property)
 Became basis for western
legal codes
Byzantine Empire under Justinian
The Foundation of an Empire
THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Hagia Sophia
CONSTANTINE’S DREAM
Imagined his “New Rome” as religious center of
the Roman Empire
 Church used idea of councils to address
disputes and answer questions of faith
 Orthodox faith of Christianity based on set of
beliefs traced to Jesus and the work of early
bishops in the Christian councils
 Linked closely with government as one allpowerful body
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DAILY LIFE
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People attended church
regularly
Religious sacraments for all
stages of life
Monasteries and Convents
cared for sick and poor
Wealthy supported work of
the church
PRACTICES
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Church Hierarchy from
Emperor to Patriarch to
Bishops to Priests
Liturgy conducted in Greek
was sacred rite of worship
Architecture and art
represented religious
symbols
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CHURCH’S ROLE
High dome with square base
Rich decorations like entering
God’s kingdom
Icons represented on walls, in
windows, and as mosaics
THE BREAK FROM THE WEST
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Eastern Orthodox Church came into conflict with
Christian churches of West
Iconoclasm – orders by Byzantine emperor to destroy
icons after seeing people were worshipping symbols
and images instead of God
 Crowning of Empress Irene in 800 led the Pope of the
West to “defend” the church against the rule of a
woman by crowning Frank King Charlemagne Holy
Roman Emperor
 Great Schism – split of the East from West in symbolic
ceremony between Cardinal representing West and
Patriarch defending Eastern traditions
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The Byzantine Empire
saw great development in
the rule of the people and
the role of the church.
With the new codes of law
and the establishment of
the Eastern Orthodox
Church, the division of the
East and West was more
clear. This prosperous
Empire was successful for
1000 years, but the
entrance of the Turks
from the East ended their
mighty reign.
END RESULT OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
Write a thesis that taps for the
prompt to the right. Fill out the
outline included at the end of your
notes.
COMPARATIVE WORK
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Analyze the similarities and
differences in the codes of
Justinian and Quranic law
while discussing the long
term impacts of each code
on contemporary society.