Module 4 lesson 1

  1. Describe Byzantine politics and the rise of Emperor Justinian. 

Justinian succeeded his uncle to the crown of the Eastern Empire. His rise to power came from his battles and increased the size of the empire.

Politics: Justantian set up a panel of experts to regulate this increasing society. This panel created a unified code, the Justanintian code: 

  1. The code: contained 5,00 roman laws that were still considered useful 

  2. The Digest: 50 volumes. Quoted/summarized the opinions of powerful roman leaders on these laws 

  3. The institutes: textbook that told law students how to use the laws

  4. The Novella (new laws): presented legislation passed after 534



  1. Describe Justinian’s achievements 

  • Recovered North Africa from invading Germanic tribes

  •  attacked rome and seized it from the Ostrogoths 

  • His armies won nearly all of Italy and some spain 

  • Created the capital- Constantinople

  • rebuilt Hagia Sophia- a church that had been destroyed in riots: people viewed this as the most splendid church in the world

 


  1. Identify causes of the Byzantine Empire’s collapse

  • Bubonic plague killed nearly 10,000 people a day- after it had faded a huge % of population has died

  • Attacks from “barbarians” from the east and west include:

Lombards: west

Avars and Slavs: northern borders

Sassanid Persians: east

Persians and Avars: Constantinople

Arab armies: Constantinople  

  • Eventually city fell to the Ottoman turks in 1433



  1. Explain why the Eastern and Western churches created two traditions.

They naturally began to develop differently due to lack of communication and distance. Then, their disagreements grew. In 1054 the pope and the patriarch excommunicated each other because of a disagreement because of religious doctrines. Shortly after christianity split.  


  1. Key Terms and People

  • Justinian- Emperor if the byzantine empire   


  • Justinian Code- Set of laws to live by


  • Hagia Sophia- church that was destroyed in a riot that Justinian rebuilt- greatest church in all of christianity 


  • Patriarch- Leading Bishop of the east 


  • Icon- Religious image used by Eastern Christians to aid their devotions