byzantine empire (330-1453) - mr. withers world history...
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Byzantine Empire (330-1453)
Definition
• Byzantine: this term is a modern invention. The
Byzantines called themselves either ‘Romans’ or
‘Greeks’. It was used for the medieval Greek-
speaking, Christian empire that dominated the
eastern Mediterranean.
• In antiquity, because of its strategic location, it
was an important center for the transport of corn
to Attica.
Definition
• 1. an ornate artistic and architectural style that
developed in the Byzantine Empire and spread
esp. to Italy and Russia. The art is generally
stylized (as in religious icons) and the architecture
typified by many-domed, highly decorated
churches.
• 2.- (of a system or situation) excessively
complicated, typically involving a great deal of
administrative detail. "Byzantine regulations"
• - characterized by deviousness or underhanded
procedure. "Byzantine intrigues"
Diocletian’s Empire
The origins
• Rome: Too Big
• Rome had grown too big for effective rule.
• Rome was too far away and the provinces often did not do as they were instructed
• The Western Roman Empire- Capital in Rome
• The Eastern Roman Empire- Capital in Byzantium
•
The origins
• The ruler of the Western Roman Empire was seen as the senior ruler of Rome
• Diocletian then moved to rule the Eastern Roman Empire. He brought with him much of West Rome’s wealth
• 292: Diocletian divides the Roman empire into two.
• 324: Constantine reunites the two parts
• 330: Constantine builds a new capital in the location of ancient Byzantium
• 337: The death of Constantine results in division between east and west.
Constantinople
• Successive emperors
build strong walls,
palaces, churches,
gardens, aqueducts
and made the city the
biggest, strongest and
most enlightened city
of medieval
Christendom The Walls of Theodosius
Cistern Basilica
The early years
• East and West divided again, permanently.
• Christianity required
• 396: Prohibition of Olympic Games
Hippodrome
The Fall of Rome
• Barbarian tribes keep
pushing into a fragmented
and weakened Roman
Empire.
• The east through bribery,
diplomacy and better
military resists effectively
• 476: Rome Falls
The Last Legion
The Age of Justinian (527-75) The Peasant Emperor
• 536: Reconquest of Rome and much of Italy took many years.
• North Africa and the Spanish coast were easily conquered.
• Victories over Sassanid Persia in the east consolidate the borders
• Control didn’t last—distrust of army leadership; withdraw to fight Persians
Justinian’s Legacy
• Hagia Sophia remained the seat of Eastern Christianity until the Fall of Constantinople.
• 552: Byzantine monks sneak silkworms and mulberry out of China.
• Justinian orders the codification of Roman law (Corpus Iuris Civilis). (Basis of most legal system in Europe and…Louisiana
• He was harsh regarding heresies
– Riots…nearly abdicated till wife shamed him
• In 529 he closed the philosophical school of Athens, thus destroying the last stronghold of paganism.
Hagia Sophia, Church of the Holy Wisdom, 6th c.
The Byzantine empire in 565, at its largest expansion ever.
The Struggle with the Persians
• Justinian and his successors were locked into a titanic struggle with an old enemy and won.
• 627: Heraclios crushes the Persians at Nineveh.
• However, both Byzantines and Persians were exhausted and vulnerable to the Arabs and Islam.
• Islamic armies take territory, but not the core of the empire
The Empire in 668
The religious art of Byzantium
• Intellectual, idealistic,
schematic, with
restrained colors and
reserved form.
• Realism is rare and
undesirable
• The objective is the
spiritual elevation of
the believer
Icons and Iconoclasm
• Icons are sacred images representing the saints, Christ, and the Virgin, as well as scenes such as Christ's Crucifixion. Icons could be in marble, ivory, ceramic, gemstone, precious metal, mosaic, etc.
• Iconoclasm literally means "image breaking" and refers to destruction of images for religious or political reasons.
Iconoclasm
• The Isaurians, followed by the Phrygian dynasty tried to abolish icons. (The Old Testament prohibits worshipping graven images)
• This divided the empire. (This will be one of the issues that divides the Catholic Church)
• Icons were restored as objects of veneration but not worship by two ecumenical councils under the leadership of two powerful women, Empress Irene the Athenian, and Theodora, Empress consort to Theophilos.
The Golden Years of Byzantium
Emperor Basil
• Emperor The 50 years following Basil’s death were years of prosperity and growth.
• Constantine VIII (1025-28) was never interested in ruling.
• At his death his daughter Zoe became empress.
• Her accession was the greatest calamity for Basil’s empire
Empress Zoe
Zoe’s Husbands
• Romanos III Argyros
• (1028-34). Reversed Basil’s financial arrangements and suffered a defeat in the east which cost him popularity. Probably murdered by Zoe
• Michael IV Paphlagonian (1034-41), a reasonably successful emperor.
• Constantine IX Monomachos (1042-1055)
• A military disaster Constantine IX
The empire in 1092
Islamic Seljuk Turks take most of Asia Minor
The Empire in 1143
• Empire further weakened by Western
European armies
The Fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders , 1204
The Latin Empire of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople
• The world turned its eyes
on a depopulated
Constantinople in the
spring of 1453.
• A shadow of its former
glory the imperial city fell
after months of siege.
• Constantine XI, the last
emperor became the
subject of legends.
The Legacy of Byzantium
• International trade blocked
– Age of Exploration
• Emigration of Hellenistic culture to
Western Europe
– Renaissance
• Basis of legal system in Western Europe
The Legacy of Byzantium
• Russia assumes Byzantine mantle
– Tsar, Church, Architecture
What Becomes of
Constantinople?