The Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine The Byzantine Empire: The New Empire: The New

RomeRome

DefinitionsDefinitions

1.1. Rule of lawRule of law Government by law. The rule of law Government by law. The rule of law

implies that government authority implies that government authority may only be exercised in accordance may only be exercised in accordance with written laws, which were with written laws, which were adopted through an established adopted through an established procedure.procedure.

2.2. AutocratAutocrat Ruler who has complete authorityRuler who has complete authority

The Division of the The Division of the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

In 284 AD In 284 AD Diocletian became became Roman emperor. He decided Roman emperor. He decided that the huge Roman empire that the huge Roman empire could only be ruled effectively could only be ruled effectively by splitting it into two parts.by splitting it into two parts.

The Division of the Roman EmpireThe Division of the Roman EmpireFrom From World History: World History: Connections to Today Connections to Today Prentice Prentice Hall, 2003Hall, 2003

ConstantineConstantine In 330 Diocletian’s In 330 Diocletian’s

successor, successor, Constantine, rebuilt , rebuilt the old Greek port of the old Greek port of Byzantium, at the Byzantium, at the entrance to the entrance to the Black Sea. He Black Sea. He renamed it renamed it Constantinople and and made the city the made the city the capital of the capital of the Eastern Roman Eastern Roman Empire.Empire.

Constantinople

From From World History: World History: Connections to Today Connections to Today Prentice Hall, 2003Prentice Hall, 2003

Constantinople

The Fall of the Western The Fall of the Western Roman EmpireRoman Empire

By 395 AD, the Roman Empire was By 395 AD, the Roman Empire was formally divided into two empires: formally divided into two empires: East and West. East and West.

With the invasion of Germanic forces With the invasion of Germanic forces from the north, the Western Roman from the north, the Western Roman Empire was conquered and further Empire was conquered and further divided. divided.

This left the eastern part of the Roman This left the eastern part of the Roman empire to carry on the Greco-Roman empire to carry on the Greco-Roman tradition.tradition.

The Fall of the Western The Fall of the Western Roman EmpireRoman Empire

From From World History: World History: Connections to Today Connections to Today Prentice Hall, 2003Prentice Hall, 2003

Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire At first, this Empire At first, this Empire

controlled only a controlled only a small area around small area around the eastern the eastern Mediterranean, but Mediterranean, but during the reign of during the reign of Justinian (527-565), it (527-565), it started to recover started to recover much of the much of the territory of the old territory of the old Roman empireRoman empire..

The New RomeThe New Rome The The Byzantine Empire

was wealthy and was wealthy and produced: gold, silk, produced: gold, silk, grain, olives and grain, olives and wine. It traded these wine. It traded these for spices, ivory and for spices, ivory and precious stones from precious stones from countries as far away countries as far away as China and India as China and India along the Silk Road along the Silk Road trade routes.trade routes.

The Silk RoadThe Silk Road

Justinian and TheodoraJustinian and TheodoraJustinian ruled as Justinian ruled as

an an autocrat autocrat with the with the help of help of Theodora. . Created a huge Created a huge Christian empireChristian empire

Empire reached its Empire reached its greatest sizegreatest size

Autocrat – ruler who has Autocrat – ruler who has complete authoritycomplete authority

Justinian and TheodoraJustinian and TheodoraJustinian ruled as Justinian ruled as

an an autocrat autocrat with with the help of the help of Theodora. Created Theodora. Created a huge Christian a huge Christian empireempire

Empire reached its Empire reached its greatest sizegreatest size

Built Built Hagia Sophia

What was happening then?What was happening then?

The Byzantine Empire Under The Byzantine Empire Under JustinianJustinian

This map depicts the This map depicts the Empire at the death Empire at the death of Justinian I, who of Justinian I, who had reigned from had reigned from 527 to 565 as sole 527 to 565 as sole Emperor, Emperor, sometimes in sometimes in concert, and concert, and sometimes in sometimes in conflict, with his conflict, with his powerful wife powerful wife Theodora. Theodora.

Justinian and TheodoraJustinian and TheodoraJustinian ruled as Justinian ruled as

an an autocrat autocrat with the with the help of Theodora. help of Theodora. Created a huge Created a huge Christian empireChristian empire

Empire reached its Empire reached its greatest sizegreatest size

Built Hagia SophiaBuilt Hagia SophiaRebuilt the Rebuilt the

HippodromeHippodrome http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjrnvDn2tcA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjrnvDn2tcA

Same as the Roman???Same as the Roman???

Justinian and TheodoraJustinian and TheodoraJustinian ruled as an Justinian ruled as an

autocrat autocrat with the help with the help of Theodora. Created a of Theodora. Created a huge Christian empirehuge Christian empire

Empire reached its Empire reached its greatest sizegreatest size

Built Hagia SophiaBuilt Hagia SophiaBuilt HippodromeBuilt HippodromeCreated Justinian’s Created Justinian’s

Code – which organized Code – which organized all the laws of ancient all the laws of ancient Rome.Rome.

Justinian’s Code of LawsJustinian’s Code of Laws Laws were fairer to women. They could own Laws were fairer to women. They could own

property and raise their own children after property and raise their own children after their husbands died.their husbands died.

Children allowed to choose their own Children allowed to choose their own marriage partners.marriage partners.

Slavery was legal and slaves must obey their Slavery was legal and slaves must obey their masters.masters.

Punishments were detailed and fit the crimePunishments were detailed and fit the crime His work inspired the modern concept and, His work inspired the modern concept and,

indeed, the very spelling of "justice".indeed, the very spelling of "justice".

The Nika Riots….Turning Point in Justinian’s rule

These riots in 532 A.D. were called the Nika Riots ("Nika"= "Victory!"), and grew from political unrest over the government's new tax measures.

Rival gangs of Blues and Greens (admirers of rival chariot-racing teams) fought in the streets.

Justinian wanted to leave the city during the riots, but two of his generals and his wife Theodora, persuaded him to stay.

Theodora took it upon herself to raise a personal army, an army that eventually killed 35,000 people in a single day.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

So who or what do you think So who or what do you think inspired Justinianinspired Justinian

Click below for AnswerClick below for Answer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GBnJe_x8sA

The End of the Byzantine The End of the Byzantine EmpireEmpire

The Byzantine empire drew The Byzantine empire drew to a close in 1453 (to a close in 1453 (but we but we are SOOOO not there yet)are SOOOO not there yet) when forces from the when forces from the Muslim Ottoman Empire Muslim Ottoman Empire surrounded and conquered surrounded and conquered Constantinople.Constantinople.

The ancient Christian city The ancient Christian city was renamed Istanbul and was renamed Istanbul and became the capital of the became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.Ottoman Empire.

One more mention..One more mention..

We will discuss the Great Schism in We will discuss the Great Schism in greater detail in the upcoming units greater detail in the upcoming units but do know this…but do know this…

– It was the division of the Catholic Church It was the division of the Catholic Church into Roman Catholic and Eastern (or into Roman Catholic and Eastern (or Greek) OrthodoxGreek) Orthodox

– This happened in 1054 and then later it This happened in 1054 and then later it again split in 1378again split in 1378