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After the Western Roman Empire fell to German barbarian invasions in the 5th century, the Eastern Roman Empire , with its capital at Constantinople , repelled the invasions and went on to survive for 1000 more years Known by historians as the Byzantine Empire Played important role in –
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After the Western Roman Empire fell to German barbarian invasions in the 5th century, the Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital at Constantinople,repelled the invasions and went on to survive for 1000 more years Known by historians as the Byzantine Empire Played important role in – preserving and spreading the culture of ancient Greeks and Romans Byzantine Empire
Located on a peninsula that overlooked the Bosporus Strait • Controlled movement between Mediterranean & Black Seas • Key trade center between East & West
FortificationsGreek fire… • Natural protection from invaders: water on 3 sides • Triple Walls fortified open side • The Golden Horn – inlet could be blocked off with iron chains
Eastern Roman Empire • Politically: Highly centralized; emperor; superb military, defenses; Roman Law (theoretically innocent until proven guilty; evidence to convict) • Economically: trade crossroads= prospered; but also had excellent agricultural production & manufacturing • Culturally: uniform church (enforced – heretics persecuted); church subject to Emperor in practice; art/architecture
Justinian & Theodora –ruled Byz. Empire 527-565 CE • Why did the Byzantine Empire develop this way? • Why did it eventually collapse? Muslim Ottoman TurksConq. Constantinople 1453 CE
Justinian and Theodora • Justinian & wife, Theodora • 6th century Emperor & Empress • Gave women more rights – own land, business, protection from spousal abuse • Justinian’s army : Put down Nika Rebellion & crushed rebels & heretics • Expanded the empire
Byzantine Architecture • Greatest form of Byzantine art • Hagia Sophia, meaning “holy wisdom” Greatest masterpiece • Huge building in form of a cross • huge dome that rests on massive columns
Inside Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s Code • Justinian had Roman laws codified and classified • Preserved Rome’s legal heritage • Principles like innocent until proven guilty • later became the basis for most European legal systems
Eventual weakening of the Empire • Muslim Seljuk Turks - • Crusades - • Ottoman Turks – conquered Constantinople 1453; • Istanbul
Legacy of the Byzantine Empire • Preserved writings of ancient Greeks and Romans and the importance of scholarship • Codified and preserved Roman Law (Code of Justinian) • Spread Christianity (Eastern Orthodox Church) to the Russians and other eastern Europeans • … cultural diffusion
Conflict in the Christian Church • Arguments over use of icons & Nature of Christ (monophysite vs dual) – • dual nature prevailed • persecuted monophysites as heretics • AD 726 Byz Emperor condemned icons; supporters: iconoclasts (image breakers) • All church leaders resisted order and were supported by the Roman Pope - so both sides used “images” • But causes rift
First split (schism) in Christendom • east and west argued over religious authority • Pope in Rome & Patriarch of Constantinople each declared their “seat” the supreme church authority + • Other differences in custom & ritual… • Eventually led to a schismin 1054 AD • Roman Catholic Church in West and Eastern Orthodox Church in East
Next: • How did early Russia develop & how was that development influenced by the Byzantine Empire? • Look at maps…
The Kievan Rus • Kievdevelopedalong the Dnieper River- important trade route connecting Baltic Sea and Black Sea • Byzantine goods & culture traveled along the river systems • Other geographic features • steppe – • taiga -
influenced by both Byzantines [south] and • Scandinavians (Vikings/Swedes/ “Varangians”) [north]
Kievan Rus • language/nationality: Slavic • Gov’t from Varangians? • Principalities- area ruled by a prince • Boyars - nobles (large landowners) • farming & hunting main livelihood
Important Developments during the Kievan Rusall influenced by the Byzantines • Alphabet • religion • law code • Art/architecture
9th century: Cyrillic Alphabet • alphabet for the Slavic languages • Named for St. Cyril, a Greek monk who, with Methodius, created a writing system to western slavic Christian converts in the mid-ninth century (c.860) • The Cyrillic alphabet is closely based on the Greek alphabet - with about a dozen additional letters invented to represent Slavic sounds not found in Greek.
Hello, I am called Ivan Selvia. Today I will study/learn the Russian language. Will you also study/learn?
Vladimir I11th century • Investigated various religions • adopted Eastern Orthodox Christianity (because of Hagia Sophia’s magnificence • mass baptism for his subjects • married Byzantine princess • brought Byzantine culture to Kiev • Metropolitan (chief bishop) appointed
Yaroslav the wise (I): Vladimir’s son • Established first • school • library • law code (Russkaia Pravda) • but Kiev declined after his death - became part of Mongol Empire
Byzantine influence • alphabet adapted from Greek (Cyrillic) • Religion (Eastern Orthodox) • Law code - ish • art (icons) and architecture
After Yaroslav • Disorder & disunity • ca. 1250 - Conquered by theMongols… for 240 years! • Little contact with central and western Europe
