Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire

McFarlandMcFarland

Europe During Post-Europe During Post-Classical PeriodClassical Period

Following fall of Roman Empire, 2 Following fall of Roman Empire, 2 Christian societies emerged in EuropeChristian societies emerged in Europe Western Europe: Roman CatholicismWestern Europe: Roman Catholicism Eastern Europe: Orthodox ChristianityEastern Europe: Orthodox Christianity

The religion and culture of Eastern The religion and culture of Eastern Europe was largely shaped by the Europe was largely shaped by the Byzantine Empire.Byzantine Empire.

Map of Byzantine EmpireMap of Byzantine Empirehttp://guide-martine.com/images/history_byzantine3.jpghttp://guide-martine.com/images/history_byzantine3.jpg

Origins of the Byzantine Origins of the Byzantine EmpireEmpire

Late in the Classical Period, Rome Late in the Classical Period, Rome established an eastern capital at established an eastern capital at Constantinople (formerly Byzantium)Constantinople (formerly Byzantium) Attempt to keep empire from collapsingAttempt to keep empire from collapsing

Roman Empire eventually split into Roman Empire eventually split into eastern and western halveseastern and western halves East began to thrive, west experienced East began to thrive, west experienced

declinedecline

Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire

Both empires were hit hard by foreign invasion and Both empires were hit hard by foreign invasion and disease in the late-classical period.disease in the late-classical period. BUT, Byzantine Empire survived, the Roman Empire did notBUT, Byzantine Empire survived, the Roman Empire did not

Why was the Byzantine Empire stronger than that of Why was the Byzantine Empire stronger than that of Rome????Rome???? Thrived on tradeThrived on trade

Trade with Rome in declineTrade with Rome in decline Military derived from Middle Eastern provincesMilitary derived from Middle Eastern provinces

Rome hired foreign mercenariesRome hired foreign mercenaries Strong political and religious leadership in form of the Strong political and religious leadership in form of the

Byzantine EmperorByzantine Emperor Roman Emperor and Pope competed for power Roman Emperor and Pope competed for power

Emperor JustinianEmperor Justinian

Byzantine Empire flourished under Justinian’s ruleByzantine Empire flourished under Justinian’s rule Art, architecture, construction projectsArt, architecture, construction projects

Hagia Sophia- church with world’s largest dome (at the time)Hagia Sophia- church with world’s largest dome (at the time) Engineering marvelEngineering marvel

Created standardized system of law codes (Justinian Law Code)Created standardized system of law codes (Justinian Law Code) Maintain stability, unity, consistencyMaintain stability, unity, consistency

Under Justinian, the Byzantine Empire extended its influence Under Justinian, the Byzantine Empire extended its influence 533: Emperor Justinian attempted to reunite eastern and 533: Emperor Justinian attempted to reunite eastern and

western halves of the old Roman Empirewestern halves of the old Roman Empire FailedFailed

Gained territory in N. Africa and ItalyGained territory in N. Africa and Italy However, the Muslim empires will later conquer about half of the However, the Muslim empires will later conquer about half of the

territory once controlled by the Byzantine Empireterritory once controlled by the Byzantine Empire

Mosaic of Emperor Justinianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Meister_von_San_Vitale_in_Ravenna_004.jpg

Byzantine SocietyByzantine Society

Emperor was ordained by God to be Emperor was ordained by God to be head of Church and statehead of Church and state Patriarchal rule, but some women were able Patriarchal rule, but some women were able

to hold throne temporarilyto hold throne temporarily In early days, women enjoyed some In early days, women enjoyed some

freedom, but became more restricted as freedom, but became more restricted as time passedtime passed Practiced veiling and confinement of womenPracticed veiling and confinement of women

Muslims later adopt these practicesMuslims later adopt these practices

Religion in Byzantine Religion in Byzantine EmpireEmpire

Initially, the Byzantines were under the Initially, the Byzantines were under the authority of the Popeauthority of the Pope Over time, conflict arose between the Pope in Rome Over time, conflict arose between the Pope in Rome

and the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinopleand the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople Began to develop differences in religious practicesBegan to develop differences in religious practices

1054: Great Schism1054: Great Schism Official split in ChurchOfficial split in Church

Roman Catholicism and Eastern OrthodoxRoman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox

Government Under Government Under Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire

Complex centralized bureaucracyComplex centralized bureaucracy Mostly aristocrats in power positionsMostly aristocrats in power positions

Possible for other social classes to hold officePossible for other social classes to hold office Bureaucrats had to be well educatedBureaucrats had to be well educated Most positions that were closest to the Emperor Most positions that were closest to the Emperor

were held by eunuchswere held by eunuchs Provincial governors and spy network to maintain Provincial governors and spy network to maintain

orderorder Close tie between church and stateClose tie between church and state

Government Under the Government Under the Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire

Focus on militaryFocus on military Recruited local troopsRecruited local troops

Exchanged military service for land that could by passed on to Exchanged military service for land that could by passed on to childrenchildren

Military helped fend off foreign invasionsMilitary helped fend off foreign invasions Regulation of the economyRegulation of the economy

Controlled food pricesControlled food prices Adopted silk making from China, allowing them to compete in Adopted silk making from China, allowing them to compete in

luxury marketsluxury markets Government Sponsored trade with Europe, Asia, Arab Government Sponsored trade with Europe, Asia, Arab

Muslims, IndiaMuslims, India Role of merchant class was diminished due to govt. involvement Role of merchant class was diminished due to govt. involvement

in tradein trade

Art and ArchitectureArt and Architecture

Strong Hellenistic InfluenceStrong Hellenistic Influence Domed buildings (adopted from Rome)Domed buildings (adopted from Rome) Mosaics: use of small, colored pieces of Mosaics: use of small, colored pieces of

glass, tile, stone to create an image glass, tile, stone to create an image Icon Painting: paintings of religious Icon Painting: paintings of religious

figuresfigures Often used rich colors such as blue and gold Often used rich colors such as blue and gold

to signify the purity and brilliance of heavento signify the purity and brilliance of heaven

Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia

Mosaic of Christ from Hagia Sophia

Decline of Byzantine Decline of Byzantine EmpireEmpire

Long declineLong decline Muslim InvasionsMuslim Invasions Turkish Troops seized territory in AsiaTurkish Troops seized territory in Asia Slavic peoples rebelled and created Slavic peoples rebelled and created

independent kingdoms in Balkan Peninsulaindependent kingdoms in Balkan Peninsula Crusaders Crusaders 1453: Turkish Sultan and his army attacked 1453: Turkish Sultan and his army attacked

Constantinople and seized the cityConstantinople and seized the city Established the Ottoman Empire under Muslim Established the Ottoman Empire under Muslim

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