the byzantine empire in postclassical times
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The Byzantine Empire in Postclassical Times. Origins. Roman Emperor Constantine moves capital to Byzantium (Constantinople) - 330 CE Roman Empire divided - 395 CE In 7 th century CE Greek adopted by Byzantine Empire. Why did the Eastern Roman Empire survive?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Byzantine Empire in Postclassical Times
Origins Roman Emperor Constantine
moves capital to Byzantium (Constantinople) - 330 CE
Roman Empire divided - 395 CE In 7th century CE Greek adopted
by Byzantine Empire
Why did the Eastern Roman Empire survive?
Large cities (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch)
Productive agriculture (Egypt) Capital Constantinople easy to defend Shorter borders with Asiatic nomads and
Germanic peoples Eastern Rome wealthier, more urbanized,
stronger military than Western Rome
Constantinople
Government – What is old Referred to themselves as Romans (even after
switch to Greek) Preserved Greek and Roman culture
wore Roman style robes and sandals Preserved Roman law Kept up Roman roads Roman taxation system Church – Christianity Centralized government, thousands of
bureaucrats in Constantinople, bureaucrats come from land owning elite
Elaborate court life
Government – What is new
Caesaropapism: emperor is head of both church and state
Emperor has absolute power Church legitimizes absolute rule of the
emperor (anointed by God) Generals in the provinces have also civil
authority, raise armies from land owning peasants in times of war
Justinian Emperor Justinian (527-565) regained much territory codified Roman law, became basis
of legal systems in West (Justinian´s Code)
large building program in Constantinople
(Hagia Sophia)
Constantinople and International Trade
Constantinople one of the largest cities in the world
Sits at cross roads of trade routes Important both as market and
manufacturing center (jewelry, linen and woolen cloth, silk, dyes)
Government control silk production Byzantine gold coins used widely in trade
in Mediterranean
The Demise of the Empire Loss of possessions in North Africa and Syria to
Arab empire Balkan Peninsula invaded by Slavic tribes and
tribes from Asia (Bulgarians, Magyars, and others)
Loss of Anatolia to Seljuk Turks (Battle of Manzikert 1071)
1204 Constantinople invaded and conquered by crusaders, Constantinople shrinks
1453 Constantinople conquered by Ottoman Turks (size of Constantinople: 50.000)
Byzantine Influences and Eastern Europe in the Postclassical Era
Schism between Catholic and Orthodox Church in 1054
Orthodox Emperor nominates
patriarch, church under political control
Monks and village priests, who can marry
monasteries Decentralized
organization Localized churches,
church service in local languages
Catholic Pope crowns Emperor of
Holy Roman Empire Popes, bishops often
interfere in politics All priests are celibate
Monasteries Centralized organization
Church service in Latin
The Christianization of Eastern Europe Emperor and Orthodox Church sponsor
missionaries to Slavic tribes in Eastern Europe Most of Balkan region (Serbia, Romania,
Macedonia, Bulgaria) and Russia converted to Orthodox Christianity
Cyril and Method, invent script for Slavic languages (based on Greek letters)
Orthodox Church decentralized, church service in local languages, church leaders appointed by political leaders
Kievan Prince Vladimir converts to Orthodox Christianity
Byzantine priests, artists, architects invited
Have big impact on Eastern European art and architecture (churches, mosaics, icons)
Russia follows different path than Western Europe (Byzantine-Greek, but not Latin)
Byzantine Icon (St. George)
Russian Icons (Sts. Boris and Gleb)
Byzantine influences on early Muslim architecture, Dome of the Rock 691 CE
Byzantine Empire in 1450
The Rise of Russia Eastern Europe settled by Slavic
speaking tribes Viking traders in 9th century founded
state of Rus in Kiev, only small minority
Become Orthodox Christians Close ties to Byzantium (trade,
religion, culture) destroyed by Russian princes and
Asiatic nomads
Society in Kievan Russia shifting cultivation, low
agricultural production no manorial system few large cities, based on trade artisans higher status than
peasants taxes on trade main income for
government
Mongol Invasions and the Rise of Moscow
Mongols conquer Russia in 1240 Rule from afar, only interested in tribute Moscow became the main power to
extract tribute Russia culturally isolated, follows
different cultural path than rest of Europe pressure to pay tribute leads to increased
serfdom, more organized and efficient state