The Byzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire

Emperor JustinianEmperor Justinian

• Wanted to restore Rome • Unified eastern and western halves of empire

Empress TheodoraEmpress Theodora

Byzantine EmperorsByzantine Emperors

• Absolute powerAbsolute power• Headed church & stateHeaded church & state• Brutal politicsBrutal politics• Constant risk of Constant risk of

assassinationassassination

Constantinople: Location, location, Constantinople: Location, location, location!location!

• Easy tradeEasy trade• Difficult to attackDifficult to attack

• Most Byzantines spoke the ______ language.Most Byzantines spoke the ______ language.GreekGreek

The Justinian CodeThe Justinian Code• Single, uniform Single, uniform law codelaw code

• Code – Code – • Digest –Digest –• Institutes –Institutes –• Novellae – Novellae –

• Regulated –Regulated –

nearly 5,000 Roman lawsnearly 5,000 Roman laws

opinions of legal thinkersopinions of legal thinkers

textbook, handbook covering lawstextbook, handbook covering lawsnew laws made after 534new laws made after 534

All aspects of life: marriage, All aspects of life: marriage, property, slavery, inheritance, property, slavery, inheritance, women’s rights, criminal justicewomen’s rights, criminal justice

Book I. Of Persons.Book I. Of Persons.I. Justice and LawI. Justice and Law

JUSTICE is the constant and perpetual wish to render every one his due. JUSTICE is the constant and perpetual wish to render every one his due.

2. Having explained these general terms, we think we shall commence our exposition 2. Having explained these general terms, we think we shall commence our exposition of the law of the Roman people most advantageously, if we pursue at first a plain of the law of the Roman people most advantageously, if we pursue at first a plain and easy path, and then proceed to explain particular details with the utmost care and easy path, and then proceed to explain particular details with the utmost care and exactness. For, if at the outset we overload the mind of the student, while yet and exactness. For, if at the outset we overload the mind of the student, while yet new to the subject and unable to bear much, with a multitude and variety of new to the subject and unable to bear much, with a multitude and variety of topics, one of two things will happen---we shall either cause him wholly to topics, one of two things will happen---we shall either cause him wholly to abandon his studies, or, after great toil, and often after great distrust to himself abandon his studies, or, after great toil, and often after great distrust to himself (the most frequent stumbling block in the way of youth), we shall at last conduct (the most frequent stumbling block in the way of youth), we shall at last conduct him to the point, to which, if he had been led by an easier road, he might, without him to the point, to which, if he had been led by an easier road, he might, without great labor, and without any distrust of his own powers, have been sooner great labor, and without any distrust of his own powers, have been sooner conducted. conducted.

3. The maxims of law are these: to live honesty, to hurt no one, to give every one his 3. The maxims of law are these: to live honesty, to hurt no one, to give every one his due. due.

4. The study of law is divided into two branches; that of public and that of private law. 4. The study of law is divided into two branches; that of public and that of private law. Public law regards the government of the Roman empire; private law, the interest Public law regards the government of the Roman empire; private law, the interest of the individuals. We are now to treat of the latter, which is composed of three of the individuals. We are now to treat of the latter, which is composed of three elements, and consists of precepts belonging to the natural law, to the law of elements, and consists of precepts belonging to the natural law, to the law of nations, and to the civil law. nations, and to the civil law.

III. The Law of Persons.III. The Law of Persons.All our law relates either to persons, or to things, or to actions. Let us first speak of All our law relates either to persons, or to things, or to actions. Let us first speak of

persons; as it is of little purpose to know the law, if we do not know the persons for persons; as it is of little purpose to know the law, if we do not know the persons for whose sake the law was made. The chief division in the rights of persons is this: men whose sake the law was made. The chief division in the rights of persons is this: men are all either free or slaves. are all either free or slaves.

1. Freedom, from which men are said to be free, is the natural power of doing what we 1. Freedom, from which men are said to be free, is the natural power of doing what we each please, unless prevented by force or by law. each please, unless prevented by force or by law.

2. Slavery is an institution of the law of nations, by which one man is made the property of 2. Slavery is an institution of the law of nations, by which one man is made the property of another, contrary to natural right. another, contrary to natural right.

3. Slaves are denominated 3. Slaves are denominated serviservi, because generals order their captives to be sold, and thus , because generals order their captives to be sold, and thus preserve them, and do not put them to death. Slaves are also called preserve them, and do not put them to death. Slaves are also called mancipiamancipia, because , because they are taken from the enemy by the strong hand. they are taken from the enemy by the strong hand.

4. Slaves either are born or become so. They are born so when their mother is a slave; they 4. Slaves either are born or become so. They are born so when their mother is a slave; they become so either by the law of nations, that is, by captivity, or by the civil law, as when become so either by the law of nations, that is, by captivity, or by the civil law, as when a free person, above the age of twenty, suffers himself to be sold, that he may share a free person, above the age of twenty, suffers himself to be sold, that he may share the price given for him. the price given for him.

5. In the condition of slaves there is no distinction; but there are many distinctions among 5. In the condition of slaves there is no distinction; but there are many distinctions among free persons; for they are either born free, or have been set free. free persons; for they are either born free, or have been set free.

IX. The Power of Parents.IX. The Power of Parents.Our children, begotten in lawful marriage, are in our power. Our children, begotten in lawful marriage, are in our power.

1. Marriage, or matrimony, is a binding together of a man and 1. Marriage, or matrimony, is a binding together of a man and woman to live in an indivisible union. woman to live in an indivisible union.

2. The power which we have over our children is peculiar to 2. The power which we have over our children is peculiar to the citizens of Rome; for no other people have a power over the citizens of Rome; for no other people have a power over their children, such as we have over ours. their children, such as we have over ours.

3. The child born to you and your wife is in your power. And so 3. The child born to you and your wife is in your power. And so is the child born to your son of his wife, that is, your is the child born to your son of his wife, that is, your grandson or granddaughter; so are your great-grandson or granddaughter; so are your great-grandchildren, and all your other descendants. But a child grandchildren, and all your other descendants. But a child born of your daughter is not in your power, but in the power born of your daughter is not in your power, but in the power of its own father. of its own father.

Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia

Justinian saw church as visible connection between Justinian saw church as visible connection between church & state church & state

What else did Justinian have built?What else did Justinian have built?• Baths, aqueducts, law courts, schools, hospitalBaths, aqueducts, law courts, schools, hospital• HippodromeHippodrome

– ““Nika!” Rebellion Nika!” Rebellion

How did the Byzantines preserve How did the Byzantines preserve Greco-Roman culture?Greco-Roman culture?

• Education – classical learningEducation – classical learning• Greek & Latin grammarGreek & Latin grammar• PhilosophyPhilosophy• Literature (Homer)Literature (Homer)• Geometry (Euclid), history (Herodotus), Geometry (Euclid), history (Herodotus),

medicine (Galen)medicine (Galen)

The Byzantine ChurchThe Byzantine Church

• Patriarch – Patriarch – • Icon – Icon – • Why controversial?Why controversial?

Emperor viewed icons as idol worshipEmperor viewed icons as idol worship• What led to the split of the Catholic What led to the split of the Catholic

Church?Church?Pope and patriarch excommunicated Pope and patriarch excommunicated each other (declared each other each other (declared each other outcasts of the Church)outcasts of the Church)

leading bishop of the Eastleading bishop of the Eastreligious images used to aid in devotionsreligious images used to aid in devotions

Split of the ChurchSplit of the Church

Roman CatholicRoman Catholic• Latin Latin • Pope has ultimate Pope has ultimate

authority over bishopsauthority over bishops• Pope has authority Pope has authority

over monarchover monarch• Priests cannot marryPriests cannot marry• Divorce not permittedDivorce not permitted

Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodox • GreekGreek• Patriarch & bishops Patriarch & bishops

have authorityhave authority• Emperor has authority Emperor has authority

over patriarchover patriarch• Priests can marryPriests can marry• Divorce allowed in Divorce allowed in

certain conditionscertain conditions

Cyrillic AlphabetCyrillic Alphabet

• Saint Methodius & Saint CyrilSaint Methodius & Saint Cyril• Alphabet for Slavic languagesAlphabet for Slavic languages• Significance –Significance –

Allowed Slavs to read the Bible Allowed Slavs to read the Bible in their own tonguesin their own tongues

Crises of the Byzantine EmpireCrises of the Byzantine Empire• Plague Plague • Attacks from east & west Attacks from east & west

– Lombards, Avars, Slavs, Bulgars, Arabs, TurksLombards, Avars, Slavs, Bulgars, Arabs, Turks

• What methods did they use to keep away What methods did they use to keep away enemies?enemies?Bribes, diplomacy, political marriages, military Bribes, diplomacy, political marriages, military powerpower

• Who does Constantinople later fall to?Who does Constantinople later fall to?Ottoman TurksOttoman Turks