the byzantine empire

THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

“Byzantium is the New Rome!”

Chapter 10 Lesson 1 The Byzantine Empire

Why do you think

Constantinople was a strategic

capital city?(answer on next slide)


• Surrounded on 3

sides by water;

good trade and

defense

• Control of Bosporus

Strait made the city

a shipping and trading hub

• Protected by 13

miles of walls,

watchtowers, and

gates

• Walls only needed to be built on one side of the city

Constantinople

Greek Fire


1. Byzantines 1. People who lived in the “city of Constantine” (Constantinople) by the early 500’s it had:

*Large markets* Public Squares

*Paved roads*Cathedral

*Palace* Circus

*Public Bath


2. Why did Constantinople become rich and powerful?

2. • The city was located at

a major crossroads of trade between land (Europe and Asia) and sea (Black and Mediterranean Seas)

• They taxed all goods that went through the city

Cultural Collisions• Byzantium is a center

of cultural collisions in the Hagia Sophia and other places.

• Why would this city be fought over for so long?


3. Strengths of the Byzantine Empire

3.

*Strong Fortifications

*Excellent Army

*Wise Rulers

*Encouraged Education

*Reformed laws and government

Justinian I Greatest Byzantine Emperor in 527- was open minded to new ideas

• The first strong ruler in Byzantium.

• He was a peasant and his wife was a circus performer. Eventually, he rose from his humble conditions.

• He desired to rebuild the Roman Empire to its original glory, for he thought that he was still an emperor of Rome.

• Began a Golden Age in regards to learning, education, law, and arts.


• While alive Justinian was described as devout, determined, and energetic

• After his death, a historian named Procopius referred to Justinian as two-faced and cruel

• Byzantium’s most ambitious ruler

• Head of church and state

• Drove barbarians out of Africa , Spain, and Italy

• Expanded Byzantine Empire but failed to capture Rome

• Built bridges, churches, hospitals, libraries, parks

• Justinian’s scholars revised laws and created Justinian’s Code

• This code of Justinian influenced many Western legal codes


5. Justian’s Code 5. • Organized Collection

and explanation of Roman laws used during the Byzantine Empire

• Basis for the legal systems of most European Countries

Mosaic of Justinian

What cultures influenced Byzantine Civilization?

•Greek•Roman •Christian


• Largest of Justinian’s 25 new cathedrals

• When Constantinople fell to the Turks, Hagia Sophia became a mosque

• Plain exterior symbolizes earthly life

• Ornate interior symbolizes spiritual universe

• Cathedral’s size, thick pillars, and enclosed space show Roman influence

• Intricate and ornate design shows Eastern influence

• Today it is a museum


7. Schism 7. Split in the Christian Church in 1054


8. Three differences that led to the schism in the Christian church

8. See next slide…..


West vs.. East

• Roman Catholic Church• Pope• Latin Language• Banished Byzantine Emperor from the

Church

• Eastern Greek Orthodox• Patriarch- highest church official• Greek Language• Outlawed Icons of Saints or holy people

from 700 to 843


9. Why did Constantinople finally fall?

9. The city was weakened by attacks from Muslim peoples from the east and Christian Crusaders from the west. It finally fell in 1453.

Justinian I

JOURNAL RESPONSE:

• “One God, One Empire, One Religion.”• What is Justinian saying in this quote? • What do you think he values according to

this quote?

Assignment

• Byzantine Acrostic• Use each letter from the world Byzantium

to describe what we have learned in class about this very important city.

the byzantine empire

Documents

byzantine empire chapter

byzantine empire justinian

byzantine empire3

byzantine civilization

byzantine empirebyzantium

byzantine empire7

byzantine empire5

byzantine empire1