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The Byzantine Empire

In this lesson, students will be able to identify significant characteristics of the Byzantine Empire.

Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:

Eastern Roman Empire

Orthodox Christianity

Byzantine Influence on Russia

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The Byzantine Empire was formerly theEastern Roman Empire.

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The Eastern Roman Empire

• The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D.

• However, the eastern portion of the empire survived. It began the Byzantine Empire.

• The Byzantine Empire survived for one thousand years after the fall of Rome.

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The Byzantine Empire survived for onethousand years after the fall of Rome.

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A Natural Location for Trade

• The Byzantine Empire was located between Europe and Asia.

• It was a natural location for trade.

• The Byzantine Empire became wealthy from trade.

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The Byzantine Empire became wealthyfrom trade.

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Orthodox Christianity

• The Byzantines developed their own form of Christianity, Orthodox Christianity.

• Greek is the official language of the Orthodox Christian Church.

• Orthodox Christians do not recognize the Pope in Rome as their leader.

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In 1054 A.D., the Orthodox ChristianChurch officially split from the RomanCatholic Church in the Great Schism.

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The Hagia Sophia was a Byzantine Church and an architectural marvel.

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Byzantine Influence on Russia

• The Byzantine Empire greatly influenced Russia.

• Byzantine missionaries established Orthodox Christian churches in Russia.

• Byzantine missionaries even created an alphabet, the Cyrillic alphabet, to write the Bible in Russian.

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Do you see the Byzantine influencein this Russian Orthodox Church?

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Justinian

• Byzantine Emperors held absolute power.

• The Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, collected all Roman written laws.

• The Code of Justinian is a collection of Roman written law.

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Justinian was a Byzantine Emperor. Heordered the collection of Roman law.

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Questions for Reflection:

• What became of the Eastern Roman Empire with the fall of Rome in 476 A.D.?

• Why was the Byzantine Empire able to prosper from trade?

• How did the Orthodox Christian Church differ from the Roman Catholic Church?

• Who was Justinian and what did he do?

• What was the Hagia Sophia?