Eastern Roman Imperial Unity: The Greek East from Justinian to the End of Iconoclasm, 500CE-850CE

Early Disintegration of the Roman Empire

  • The Western Roman Empire experienced significant disintegration leading to the rise of various Germanic tribes:

    • Visigoths: Established independent city-states on the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal).

    • Vandals: Occupied regions in North Africa.

    • Franks: Dominated areas of Gaul (modern France and parts of Germany).

    • Ostrogoths: Ruled in modern-day Italy.

The Eastern Roman Empire

  • Contrasted with the Western decline, the Eastern Roman Empire (often referred to as Byzantium) remained strong.

  • Ruled from Constantinople, encompassing regions such as Greece, the Balkans, Asia Minor, Syria, Israel, and Egypt.

  • The Eastern Romans still identified as Romans up until 1453.

Justinian and Theodora: Power in the East

  • Justinian:

    • Born shortly after the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire.

    • Became emperor in 527, following his uncle's reign.

  • Theodora:

    • Born to a lowborn family, with her father a bear keeper.

    • Worked as a stage performer to support her family.

    • Married Justinian in 525 after he successfully changed the law prohibiting their marriage.

Religious Conflicts and Imperial Politics

  • Tensions between Nicene Christians (like Justinian and Theodora) and Arian Christians (such as the Vandals).

    • Nicene Christians believed in the divinity of Jesus Christ, while Arian Christians did not.

  • Justinian initiated an attack against the Vandals in response to the persecution of Nicene Christians in North Africa, resulting in their defeat and the resurgence of Eastern Roman influence in the area by 533.

The Deterioration of Arian Christianity

  • By approximately 600, Arian Christianity had largely disappeared from Mediterranean Europe, indicating a shift towards Nicene Christianity.

  • Justinian's regime supported the construction of new churches and monasteries while opposing variations of Christianity they disfavored.

The Nika Riots

  • In 532, unrest in Constantinople led to the Nika Riots, where an angry mob sought to overthrow Justinian and Theodora.

  • Initial advice from Justinian’s advisors urged escape, but Theodora’s determination changed his strategy.

  • Military force was used against the rioters, which led to the slaughter of approximately 30,000 people.

Linguistic Transition

  • Justinian was the last Eastern Roman Emperor fluent in Latin; this language eventually transitioned to Greek for governance and communication.

  • By the 7th century, Greek became the common administrative language.

The Iconoclastic Controversy

  • Following Arab conquests, significant territory was lost by the Eastern Roman Empire, leading to crises over faith and imperial identity.

  • Emperor Leo III posited that the empire’s decline was due to idolatry, specifically regarding the veneration of icons.

    • Icons: Religious images venerated as part of Christian worship.

  • Led to a ban on icons, provoking backlash from monastic communities who believed in their miraculous powers.

Councils and Reversals

  • The Second Council of Nicaea (end of the iconoclast period) permitted the use of icons again, asserting that the incarnation of God in Jesus justified their existence as tools for worship.

  • The period post-Nicaea saw alternating phases of icon support and destruction, highlighting the intersection between politics and religion.

  • The second stage saw significant violence, including execution, against iconoclasts.

Conclusion

  • The back-and-forth over icon veneration illustrates broader themes of political and religious unity, indicative of struggles within the Eastern Roman Empire in maintaining control amid diversity and conflict.