TheByzantine

Empire

Birth of Byzantine Empire

• Augustus founded the Roman Empire in 27 BCE

• Weakening by 3rd Century CE (200s)

• In 285 CE, Emperor Diocletian realized that the empire was too large and weak for one ruler

• Split it into 2 halves, one emperor each

• Emperor Constantine made city of Byzantine capitalConstantinople

• Byzantine Empire (a.k.a. Eastern Roman Empire, a.k.a. Byzantium) continued on until 1453 CE

Byzantine Empire’s Success

• Unlike WRE, had lots of cities (trade, government, population)

• Fertile farmland in Anatolia = large quantities of food = large population

• Emperors could collect tax money to pay for large army to protect borders

• City of Constantinople surrounded by waterhard to capture

Justinian (ruled 527-565)

• Absolute monarch (Caesaropapism)

• Justinian’s Code

• Building Program in Constantinople

• Reconquest

Cultural Interaction

Byzantine Culture

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Greek Culture

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Roman Culture

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Asian Culture

Maps of the Byzantine Empire

• The following maps show how the Byzantine Empire shrank and expanded because of crises and recovery

• Focus your attention on the areas in dark blue—they represent Byzantine Empire

• Ignore red and light colored areas

565--Death of Justinian565--Death of Justinian

623—After Plague, Invasions of Lombards, Avars, Sasanids623—After Plague, Invasions of Lombards, Avars, Sasanids

754—After Arab Invasions754—After Arab Invasions

1040--Recovery1040--Recovery

1403—After Turkish Invasions1403—After Turkish Invasions

Exterior View of the Church of San Vitale

JustinianJustinian

Belisarius?Belisarius?

Mosaic from Church of San Vitale in Ravenna,Italy, c.547Mosaic from Church of San Vitale in Ravenna,Italy, c.547

TheodoraTheodora

Gold coin, a solidus, from the reign of Justinian

Exterior and interior views of Hagia Sophia