chapter 8 byzantine empire and the rise of islam
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 8
Byzantine Empire and the Rise of Islam
Essential Question- Section 1Why was Constantinople a great city?
ConstantinopleConstantinople
Made by Constantine in 330Built on site of Greek seaport known as
ByzantiumIntersection of major trade routes between
Asia and EuropeConstantine called it New RomeRemember has Rome split in west and then
east? Eastern Roman Empire now= Byzantine Empire
Emperor- church and stateRulers power Absolute= with complete,
unrestrained authorityReligion closely linked with politicsOne ruler tried to reconquer all of western
Roman Empire- Justinian
JustinianHad official court historian- Procopius
Said Justinian a conscientious ruler Justinian tried to reconquer lands in the westOrdered Greek and Latin scholars to compile
and simplify the lawsWas successful in reconquering – even took the
city of Rome and parts of AfricaRome went back and forth between rulersWhen Byzantines finally controlled power
Rome, the city was in ruinsSpread his empire through SpainThe destruction of Rome was caused by
Justinian
Justinian’s Code of LawsBody of Civil Law (Corpus Juris Civilis)- Code
of Justinian1. Codex Justinian- 5,000 laws from Roman
Empire that were still relevant2. Digest- quotes and summarized the
opinions of Rome’s greatest legal writers3. Institutes- textbook for law students on
how to use new code4. Novellae- new laws
Basis for Byzantine Empire for 900 years
Church SplitIn Constantinople, icons used (objects
depicting Jesus, Mary, etc.)People in Constantinople did not like this-
thought icon really an idol (these people are called iconoclasts)
Tension between people in Rome and people in Constantinople
Eventually, split the church:Christianity in Rome= Roman Catholic ChurchChristianity in Constantinople= Eastern
Orthodox Church
Fight for SurvivalByzantine Empire always fighting to stay
aliveJust like Rome, constantly trying to stop
invadersEventually Arabs, inspired by Prophet
Muhammad, came into Byzantine Empire through the Arabian desert and threatened empire’s survival
Quick WriteWhat factors made Constantinople a great
city? (consider geographic, historic, and cultural influences)
Section 3- The Empires Influences Slavs and TurksEssential Question- Why were the Turks
successful in taking over the Byzantine Empire and bringing it to an end?
Byzantine Culture Influences the Slavic PeoplesByzantine Empire lost land to Muslims, but
Constantinople still strongArabs attacking Constantinople from the
South, Slavs attacking from the NorthSlavs- nomads who migrated from eastern
Europe into Asia
Conversion of SlavsSlavs persuaded to become Christian (unlike
the Arahs)
The Russian KingdomSlavs in north called RussiansPrincess Olga, ruled Kiev from 945-955,was
the first Russian ruler to be ChristianHagia Sophia- built by Constantine, CathedralRussians looked to Constantinople rather
than Rome as the religious leader- cutting ties from Western Europe
The Turks Struck from the EastIslamic Empire
Spain already broke from Islamic Empire by 756Lost Egypt in 868- biggest lossSultan held all political power or Islamic Empire-
not religiousSeljuk Turks
Baghdad fell to the TurksSeljuk Turks= first group of migrating Turks,
Sunni’sStill fought with other MuslimsOnce Baghdad fell, Turks replaced Arabs as the
ruling class1071- Seljuk Turks invaded Byzantine Empire and
took over the eastern Byzantine Empire
The Ottomans posed a new ThreatNew group of Turks- the OttomansOttomans saw themselves as Ghazis- fierce
Islamic warriors dedicated to fighting a holy war against non-believers
Ottomans took power from Seljuk TurksOttomans invaded the Byzantine Empire
and by 1350, they controlled most of western Asia Minor
Only Constantinople remained unconquered
The Fall of ConstantinopleIf the city stayed under Byzantine rule, the
Ottomans could not gain more powerMuhammad II- Ottoman Sultan- said “I want
only one thing. Give me Constantinople!” 1451
April 6, 1453- Siege for ConstantinopleMuhammad gained control of the HarborMay 29- Ottoman Turks took over
ConstantinopleMuhammad changed the name to Istanbul Hagia Sophia transformed into a Mosque
Quick WriteWhy were the Turks successful in taking
over the Byzantine Empire and bringing it to an end?