Unit 6: Byzantine Empire

Day #1 Geography

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  • Constantinople
    • Capital of Byzantine due to:
  1. Protection 
  2. Far from germanic tribes 
  3. “Crossroads” of trade
  4. Well-fortified 

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Justinian

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  • Influential ruler (527 - 565 AD)
  • Justinian Code - laws
    • Collected from Rome
    • Influences modern laws
    • Expanded Trade
    • Reconquests - conquered former Roman Lands

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  • Was an absolute monarch
  • Wife, Theodora was co-ruler 
    • Fought for women’s rights 

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  • Nika Riots - people’s failed attempt to overthrow Justinian 
    • Rioters were defeated 

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Contributions 

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  • Icons - religious images 
    • People prayed to them
    • Inspired Christianity 

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  • Mosaics - art from small pieces of pottery 
    • Displayed in public and religious buildings 

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  • Hagia Sophia
    • Very elaborate 
    • “Church of Holy Wisdom”
    • Built by Justinian
    • Today, a mosque (Islam) due to Ottoman Conquests (1453)

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Preserving the Past

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  • Gerco-oman culture 
    • Preserved in Byzantine libraries 

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  • Greek - spoken is East
  • Latin - spoken in west
  • Greek Orthodox Christianity - practiced in byzantine 

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Day #2 Russia

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Byzantine Influence 

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  • Byzantine influence Russia through:
    • Trade
    • Religion
    • Culture 

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Trade

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  • Russia and Byzantine were connected by Northern European Trade Route
    • Between Black and Baltic Seas
    • CoSlavs (Russia) learned Greek by St. Cyril
    • St. Cyril is a Christian missionary
    • He created the Cyrillic alphabet 

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  • Russia adopted Byzantine culture 

 

Religion

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  • Russia adopted Orthodox Christianity
  • Onion Domes - architecture used on churches 

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Divide

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  • Great Schism (1054 AD) - split within Christianity 
  • People told the Patriarch in the East that he was the sole leader of christianity. 
  • Led to Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches 
  • Both use different church doctrines (rules)

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  • Western Church

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  • Catholic
  • Rome - center of power
  • Far from Imperial Rule (constantinople)
  • Latin used in Liturgy (mass)
  • Pope - Supreme authority 
  • Celibacy -clergy cannot marry or have kids 

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  • Eastern Church

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  • Greek Orthodox
  • Constantinople - center of power 
  • Close to imperial rule 
  • Greek used in Liturgy
  • Patriarchs - have authority 
  • Clergy can marry and have kids 

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Day #3: Before the Fall

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  • In 600s AD, Islam formed in SW Asia
  • By 700s, Muslims gained lands & followers
  • The Great Schism, disunited Christians 
  • Thus, Byzantine Empire Weakened 

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Collapse

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  • In 1090, the Crusades or holy wars between Christinans & Muslims began
  • Constaninople was attacked and later destroyed 

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Byzantines Collapse 

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  • 1353, Ottomans (Muslims) conquered Constantinople 
  • Caused:
    • Trade routes to close
    • Age of Exploration (1500s),
    • Europe's desire to find direct access to Asia
    • Demand For goods 
      • Spices