Download The Rise of the Byzantine Empire

The Rise of the Byzantine Empire
Introduction
• As the Western Roman
Empire crumbled, the Eastern
Roman Empire flourished.
— Emperor Constantine
relocated the capital of the
Roman Empire to
Constantinople, adding to
the success of the Eastern
Roman Empire.
— “Rule of Four”- One ruler
and successor were chosen
for each part of the
Roman Empire.
Introduction,
• The Eastern Roman Empire is
renamed the Byzantine
Empire, or Byzantium.
— Byzantium can be referred
to as ‘New Rome’,
centered in modern - day
Turkey.
— The Byzantine Empire will
exist for the next 1,000
years until conquered by
the Ottoman Empire in
1453.
Cont’d
Location of Constantinople
• Emperor Constantine chose Constantinople (originally Byzantium)
as the capital and cultural center of the Byzantine Empire for its
location.
— Located on the Bosporus Strait on the Black Sea.
— Included territory from Greece in the west, Egypt in the South,
and Persia in the east.
Location of Constantinople, Cont’d
The Byzantine Empire
— Constantinople provided:
o Natural crossroads for trade, linking trade between the two continents of
Europe and Asia.
 Constantinople links both the Eastern and Western worlds.
 Controls the access to the Mediterranean Sea.
Seas and oceans provided natural defenses, allowing Constantinople to fortify
(protection from invaders).
Constantinople was geographically distant from the Germanic tribes that led to
the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Role of Constantinople
• Constantinople (Byzantine Empire) will preserve classical GrecoRoman culture and heritage.
— Continue some traditions of the Western Roman Empire, while
incorporating past Greek culture.
o Emperors will speak Latin, but the people will speak Greek.
o Adoption of Christianity as the official religion.
o Architecture
o Continuing traditions of Roman Law (Justinian’s Code)
Latin!!
Role of Constantinople, Cont’d
• Serve as the center of trade, linking the continents of Europe and
Asia with Northern Africa.
• Strongly fortified by strong walls and a large navy.
• Constantinople will be an influential, rich city that is more
prosperous and safer than any city in the west until it is conquered
by the Ottomans in 1453.
Justinian the Great
• Justinian the Great ruled the
Byzantine Empire from 527 – 565
and was the most influential
Byzantine Emperor.
• Goals of Justinian:
— Recreate the past and bring
back the ‘glory days’ of Rome.
— Win back the lands taken by
outside invaders during the fall
of the West.
— Reform Roman law.
Rome
Justinian the Great (cont.)
• Military and Expansion of the Byzantine Empire
— Justinian was able to regain territories taken by the Ostrogoths (in Italy),
Visigoths (in southern Spain), and Vandals (in North Africa).
— Defeated the Persians and secured the borders in the East.
— These military conquests were costly in man power and in wealth.
• Code of Justinian
— Justinian wanted to reform former
Roman law (Twelve Tables) by
putting laws in a logical order and
getting rid of laws that were
obsolete or contradictory.
— Goal ⇒ Establish a fair and
efficient government throughout
the empire.
— Result!! = Code of Justinian
o A single, uniform code of
laws that all must follow in the
Byzantine Empire.
o The Code of Justinian will
influence many future
European legal codes (laws).
Expansion of Trade
• Linked the Western to Eastern world.
• Goods came to Constantinople from China on the Silk Road
(silk, porcelain, paper).
• Goods were then bought and sold as they passed into Europe.
– Commodities such as Byzantine crafts, Persian carpets, and
Chinese silks passed from Constantinople through Italian
trading centers and into Western Europe.
Western World
Eastern World