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