Download The Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire
Split in the Roman Empire

The Roman
Empire was
plagued with
problems
(internal
invasions, civil
wars and poor
economy) and
began declining
by the 300s AD
Constantine


Constantine (306 –
337) is considered the
first Christian Roman
Emperor
Proclaimed religious
toleration for
Christians throughout
the empire
The New Rome



In 330 AD Constantine
built a new capital city
called Constantinople in
the New Roman Empire
The city was very
protected and powerful
and eventually became
the new center of the
Byzantine Empire
Byzantine culture blended
Greek language, culture
and traditions and Roman
law
Rule of Justinian


First great Byzantine
leader, 527 – 565 AD
Created Justinian’s
Code—written set of
laws created from
those of Ancient
Rome
Byzantine Empire


Skilled army and
cavalry soldiers led to
Justinian recapturing
much of the Roman
Empire
Wars were long and
costly—caused
economic hardship in
the Byzantine Empire
The Silk Road


Significant factor in
the development of
the Byzantine Empire
Route enabled people
to trade in various
parts of the world—
main trade route to
Asia
Split of East and West



Religious and economic
differences began to separate
the Byzantine Empire from
Western Europe
Religious services held in
Greek in Byzantine and Latin in
the west
Disagreements over church
practices and authority arose—
Byzantine Church answered to
emperor while the Church and
Pope in western Europe had
great political power and
authority
The Great Schism

1054, the final break
between east and
west—Christian
church split into
Roman Catholic
Church (Rome) and
the Eastern Orthodox
Church
(Constantinople)
The Crusades


Series of military
campaigns waged by
Christians against
external and internal
opponents, mostly
Muslims
Tried to prevent
Muslim expansion into
modern-day Turkey
Decline of the Byzantine Empire



1204, Crusaders and
Venetians invaded and
destroyed Constantinople
Weakened agriculture and
trade, and loss of land
Ottoman Turks (Muslim)
considered the fight
against Byzantine
(Christian) a holy war
Fall of Constantinople


By the early 1400s, the
Byzantine Empire had
been destroyed and
consisted of only
Constantinople and two
small territories in Greece
In 1453 the city of
Constantinople fell to the
Ottoman Turks, marking
the end of the Byzantine
Empire
Cultural Influences of the
Byzantine Empire




Preserved Greco-Roman
culture
Created icons and other
forms of Greco-Roman art
(mosaics)
Spread culture into
Eastern Europe and
Russia through trade and
expansion
Permanently split the
Christian Church
Architectural Influences of the
Byzantine Empire


Hagia Sophia—
created under
Justinian—the
religious focal point of
the Eastern Orthodox
Church for 1000 years
Created onion-shaped
dome over
rectangular buildings
Political Influences of the Byzantine
Empire



Used skilled and
resourceful diplomacy
to make connections
and learn about
enemies
First to use foreign
intelligence agency
Justinian’s Code
preserved Roman law
Critical Thinking…
Rank in order the most important influences
of the Byzantine Empire on modern
civilization.
(#1 = most important, #3 = least
important)