Download
1 / 58
590 likes | 777 Vues
BYZANTINE EMPIRE. SOL WHI.8. Constantinople. Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. “New Rome” Constantinople was formerly known as Byzantium. Constantinople was founded by Rome’s first Christian emperor, Constantine. Constantinople. Location.
E N D
BYZANTINE EMPIRE SOL WHI.8
Constantinople • Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. • “New Rome” • Constantinople was formerly known as Byzantium. • Constantinople was founded by Rome’s first Christian emperor, Constantine.
Location • Constantinople was located between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmora. • This location helped protect the city. • This positioning also allowed for favorable trade routes linking Europe and Asia • led to the prosperity in Constantinople
Location • Constantinople also had excellent harbors for its time which also helped trade. • Trade led to the exchange of such goods • spices from India • gold from Africa, • honey, timber, and fur from Russia • silk from China.
Location • Besides the positioning of Constantinople between two bodies of water it was also protected by sea and land walls which made it tough for invaders to get into the city.
Constantinople • Constantinople’s power began to fade in the early part of 1000 CE. • A feud between the Byzantine Empire and Venice, among other things caused a decline in power
Blending of Cultures • Preserved classical Greco-Roman culture. • Blended Greek, Roman, and Christianity with traditions of the eastern Mediterranean
The Final Days • By 1453 Constantinople was still standing under Byzantine rule even though the Byzantine Empire was all but over. • However, in 1453 the Ottoman Empire led by Mehmet II overtook the city and renamed it Istanbul officially ending the Byzantine Empire.
Justinian: Leader of the Byzantine empire • Justinian ruled the Byzantine Empire from 527-565 and is regarded as the greatest of all the Byzantine Empire. • Perhaps his biggest accomplishment was codifying the laws of the Roman Empire.
Justinian’s Code • Justinian appointed 16 legal scholars to codify the laws of the Roman Empire to fit into the Byzantine society • Justinian’s code was also known as “Corpus Juris Civilis” and served as the legal basis for many future societies • Justinian’s Code would serve as the basis for the development of Civil Law in Western Europe KEYWORD
Other Accomplishments • Another major accomplishment of Justinian was the rebuilding of Constantinople • Constantinople became a center of culture and prosperity • During Justinian’s rule Constantinople housed over 300,000 people
Other Accomplishments • Justinian was also responsible for fortifying the city • He was the one who had the sea and land walls built. • These walls would allow Constantinople to withstand 900 years of attack • Justinian was also responsible for the building of the Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia • The Hagia Sophia was known as a domed Basilica (church) and was the first of its kind ever built. • Construction lasted for 5 years (532-537) and was completed on December 27, 537. • The Hagia Sophia is one of the most popular images associated with the Byzantine Empire. • It has served as a Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and Islamic Mosque
These towers, called minarets, were built after the Hagia Sophia became a mosque. Mosque officials, called muezzins, call Muslims to prayer from the minarets
Justinian Conquers Land • Another goal of Justinian’s was to reacquire lands lost at the end of the Roman Empire. • Those lands included lands in North Africa, Italy (including Rome), and Southern Spain. • Justinian sent his top general, Belisarius to take back these lands.
Justinian Conquers Land • Belisarius was successful in reacquiring land. • When Belisarius entered Rome, the Romans were happy to have them. • Belisarius quickly conquered Rome, but the Goths would return to battle with Belisarius.
Justinian Conquers Land • After roughly 60 years of fighting Rome was officially taken over by the Byzantine Empire. • However, at this time, Rome was destroyed and its population had fallen to 40,000. • Justinian was successful in expanding the empire, but he would stretch it too thin.
Theodora • Justinian was married to a woman named Theodora • His wife, Theodora, was an ambitious politician who had many of her own policies • Sometimes would challenge her husband • Theodora became powerful and helped Justinian rule the empire
“Emperor, if you wish to flee, well and good; you have the money, the ships are ready, the sea is clear. But I shall stay. I accept the ancient proverb: Royal purple is the best burial sheet” – Empress Theodora What does Theodora mean by this quote?
Preservation of Roman & Greek Traditions • The Code of Justinian preserved Roman Law and provided for diverse people to be governed by the Empire. • Code of Justinian – laws of the Byzantine Empire, based on Roman laws of the Twelve Tables. • Justinian’s Code became the basis of European law.
The Roman language was dropped by many people within the Byzantine Empire in favor of Greek. • People of Byzantine Empire wanted to distinguish themselves as separate from the Roman Empire. • They began to form a new religion separate from the Roman Catholic Church. • New Religion was known as Greek Orthodox, but did keep many similar beliefs to the RCC.
Split Between Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox • The government in Constantinople refused to accept the supremacy of the Pope in Rome. • Differences in beliefs led to the split in Christianity between Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox. • Icons were opposed in Byzantium and supported in Rome. • Language, celibacy, and texts were also differences.
Icons religious work of art, most commonly a painting
Differences Between the RCC & the Greek Orthodox Church • RCC – spoke Latin, Pope was the head of the Church, Vatican City in Rome was the capital of the Church, Priests are not allowed to marry. • Greek Orthodox Church – spoke the vernacular (language of the people), Byzantine Emperor was the head of the Church, Constantinople was the capital of the G/O Church, Priests were allowed to marry
Byzantine Influence • Byzantine Empire influenced Russia and Easter European Countries through its culture. • It spread Christianity eastward with the Greek Orthodox Church. • Slavic people were converted to Christianity by St. Cyril.
Byzantine Influence • St. Cyril adapted the Greek alphabet to create a Slavic language (Cyrillic Alphabet) • Still used in Russia, Bulgaria, and other parts of Eastern Europe today. • Conversion of Slavs & Russians to Christianity brought people into contact with Byzantine culture. • Today this is evident in Russian architecture.
Byzantine Art & Architecture • The people of Byzantium were influenced by their contact with their Muslim neighbors. • This influence can be seen in their art and architecture. • Mosaics were used to decorate public places and religious structures. • Mosaics are ceramic tiles arranged to form a picture. • Made out of clay and glass
Byzantine Art & Architecture • Domed structures were built. • The most influential building of the Byzantine Empire was the Hagia Sophia. • Was built and used as a Greek Orthodox Church in Constantinople. • Today it serves as a Islamic Mosque in Istanbul.
