Introduction to the Byzantine Empire

Introduction to the Byzantine Empire Ms. Carmelitano

Location • The Byzantine Empire rose out of the Eastern Roman Empire • The Western portion was invaded by Germanic tribes – the Huns • The Eastern portion survived, by Constantine • Constantine moved the capital of Rome to the city of Byzantium (in the east) • 330 AD: Renamed Constantinople

Justinian • 527 AD • Succeeded his uncle to the throne of the Eastern Empire • Wife: Empress Theodora • The most powerful woman in Byzantine’s history • She was originally an actress • Met with foreign envoys, passed laws, built churches • After she died in AD, Justinian no longer passed any major laws

Conquest • 533 • Justinian sent general Belisarius, to recover Northern Africa from Germanic Tribes • Forces were able to win back most of Italy and parts of Spain • After 16 years: • Justinian was emperor of most of old Roman empire: His forces could not re-take Rome • Called himself “The new Caesar”

Map of the Byzantine Empire

The New Caesar • Justinian ruled with absolute power: Like the Caesars before him • Headed the church and state • Appointed and dismissed bishops • His successors were very brutal • Of 88 Byzantine emperors, 29 would die violently and 13 would give up the throne for a life in the monastery

Separation from Rome • The distance from the Western Empire helped citizens of Byzantine Empire form a unique culture • They stopped speaking Latin and began speaking Greek

Life in the Empire • Justinian hired legal experts to regulate society after re-uniting the two empires • The Panel combed through 400 years of Roman Law • It changed laws that were outdated and contradictory to write a new set of laws • Called: Justinian’s Code

Codification of Laws • The panel created a single, uniform code known as the Justinian Code • The Code was written in four sections for laws of people, things, interstate succession, and contracts • It was comprised of four works • 1. The Code contained 5,000 Roman laws that were still use for Byzantine Empire • 2. The Digest quoted and summarized the opinions of Rome’s greatest legal thinkers about the laws – 50 volumes • 3. The Institutes was a textbook that told the law students how to use the laws • 4. The Novellae (new laws) presented legislation passed after 534

Code discussed marriage, slavery, property, inheritance, women’s rights, and criminal justice • Served for 900 years

Introduction to the Byzantine Empire