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The Byzantine Empire
In this lesson, students will be able to
identify significant characteristics of the
Byzantine Empire.
Students will be able to identify and/or
define the following terms:
Eastern Roman Empire
Orthodox Christianity
Byzantine Influence on Russia
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The Byzantine Empire was formerly the
Eastern Roman Empire.
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The Eastern Roman Empire
• The Western Roman Empire fell in 476
A.D.
• However, the eastern portion of the empire
survived. It began the Byzantine Empire.
• The Byzantine Empire survived for one
thousand years after the fall of Rome.
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The Byzantine Empire survived for one
thousand years after the fall of Rome.
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A Natural Location for Trade
• The Byzantine Empire was located
between Europe and Asia.
• It was a natural location for trade.
• The Byzantine Empire became wealthy
from trade.
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The Byzantine Empire became wealthy
from trade.
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Orthodox Christianity
• The Byzantines developed their own form
of Christianity, Orthodox Christianity.
• Greek is the official language of the
Orthodox Christian Church.
• Orthodox Christians do not recognize the
Pope in Rome as their leader.
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In 1054 A.D., the Orthodox Christian
Church officially split from the Roman
Catholic Church in the Great Schism.
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The Hagia Sophia was a Byzantine
Church and an architectural marvel.
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Byzantine Influence on Russia
• The Byzantine Empire greatly influenced
Russia.
• Byzantine missionaries established
Orthodox Christian churches in Russia.
• Byzantine missionaries even created an
alphabet, the Cyrillic alphabet, to write the
Bible in Russian.
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Do you see the Byzantine influence
in this Russian Orthodox Church?
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Justinian
• Byzantine Emperors held absolute power.
• The Byzantine Emperor, Justinian,
collected all Roman written laws.
• The Code of Justinian is a collection of
Roman written law.
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Justinian was a Byzantine Emperor. He
ordered the collection of Roman law.
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Questions for Reflection:
• What became of the Eastern Roman
Empire with the fall of Rome in 476 A.D.?
• Why was the Byzantine Empire able to
prosper from trade?
• How did the Orthodox Christian Church
differ from the Roman Catholic Church?
• Who was Justinian and what did he do?
• What was the Hagia Sophia?
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