Chapter 8

Byzantine Empire and the Rise of Islam

Essential Question- Section 1Why was Constantinople a great city?

ConstantinopleConstantinople

Made by Constantine in 330Built on site of Greek seaport known as

ByzantiumIntersection of major trade routes between

Asia and EuropeConstantine called it New RomeRemember has Rome split in west and then

east? Eastern Roman Empire now= Byzantine Empire

Emperor- church and stateRulers power Absolute= with complete,

unrestrained authorityReligion closely linked with politicsOne ruler tried to reconquer all of western

Roman Empire- Justinian

JustinianHad official court historian- Procopius

Said Justinian a conscientious ruler Justinian tried to reconquer lands in the westOrdered Greek and Latin scholars to compile

and simplify the lawsWas successful in reconquering – even took the

city of Rome and parts of AfricaRome went back and forth between rulersWhen Byzantines finally controlled power

Rome, the city was in ruinsSpread his empire through SpainThe destruction of Rome was caused by

Justinian

Justinian’s Code of LawsBody of Civil Law (Corpus Juris Civilis)- Code

of Justinian1. Codex Justinian- 5,000 laws from Roman

Empire that were still relevant2. Digest- quotes and summarized the

opinions of Rome’s greatest legal writers3. Institutes- textbook for law students on

how to use new code4. Novellae- new laws

Basis for Byzantine Empire for 900 years

Church SplitIn Constantinople, icons used (objects

depicting Jesus, Mary, etc.)People in Constantinople did not like this-

thought icon really an idol (these people are called iconoclasts)

Tension between people in Rome and people in Constantinople

Eventually, split the church:Christianity in Rome= Roman Catholic ChurchChristianity in Constantinople= Eastern

Orthodox Church

Fight for SurvivalByzantine Empire always fighting to stay

aliveJust like Rome, constantly trying to stop

invadersEventually Arabs, inspired by Prophet

Muhammad, came into Byzantine Empire through the Arabian desert and threatened empire’s survival

Quick WriteWhat factors made Constantinople a great

city? (consider geographic, historic, and cultural influences)

Section 3- The Empires Influences Slavs and TurksEssential Question- Why were the Turks

successful in taking over the Byzantine Empire and bringing it to an end?

Byzantine Culture Influences the Slavic PeoplesByzantine Empire lost land to Muslims, but

Constantinople still strongArabs attacking Constantinople from the

South, Slavs attacking from the NorthSlavs- nomads who migrated from eastern

Europe into Asia

Conversion of SlavsSlavs persuaded to become Christian (unlike

the Arahs)

The Russian KingdomSlavs in north called RussiansPrincess Olga, ruled Kiev from 945-955,was

the first Russian ruler to be ChristianHagia Sophia- built by Constantine, CathedralRussians looked to Constantinople rather

than Rome as the religious leader- cutting ties from Western Europe

The Turks Struck from the EastIslamic Empire

Spain already broke from Islamic Empire by 756Lost Egypt in 868- biggest lossSultan held all political power or Islamic Empire-

not religiousSeljuk Turks

Baghdad fell to the TurksSeljuk Turks= first group of migrating Turks,

Sunni’sStill fought with other MuslimsOnce Baghdad fell, Turks replaced Arabs as the

ruling class1071- Seljuk Turks invaded Byzantine Empire and

took over the eastern Byzantine Empire

The Ottomans posed a new ThreatNew group of Turks- the OttomansOttomans saw themselves as Ghazis- fierce

Islamic warriors dedicated to fighting a holy war against non-believers

Ottomans took power from Seljuk TurksOttomans invaded the Byzantine Empire

and by 1350, they controlled most of western Asia Minor

Only Constantinople remained unconquered

The Fall of ConstantinopleIf the city stayed under Byzantine rule, the

Ottomans could not gain more powerMuhammad II- Ottoman Sultan- said “I want

only one thing. Give me Constantinople!” 1451

April 6, 1453- Siege for ConstantinopleMuhammad gained control of the HarborMay 29- Ottoman Turks took over

ConstantinopleMuhammad changed the name to Istanbul Hagia Sophia transformed into a Mosque

Quick WriteWhy were the Turks successful in taking

over the Byzantine Empire and bringing it to an end?