The Byzantine Empire. Essential Question ????? How did the Byzantine Empire preserve the political and cultural heritage of Rome? Supporting Questions.

The Byzantine Empire

Essential Question?????

How did the Byzantine Empire preserve the political and cultural heritage of Rome?

Supporting QuestionsWhat were three of Justinian's major

accomplishments?

Time Line: The Byzantine Empire

Date Event

330 Constantine makes Constantinople his capital

527 Justinian becomes Emperor

532-537 Justinian builds the church of Hagia Sophia

1054 The Church in Rome breaks from the Church in Constantinople

1204 Constantinople is occupied by crusaders

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Setting the Scene: Eastern Roman empire becomes known as the Byzantine empire

Remember… invaders pounded the Roman empire in the

west and so emperors shifted base to eastern Mediterranean.

Constantinople

Constantine becomes the sole Emperor of the Roman Empire.

Constantine found new capital for himself and chose Byzantium (today’s Istanbul)

Emperor Constantine rebuilt the Greek city of Byzantium and gave it the name: Constantinople. Becomes “new Rome”

As cities of western roman Empire crumbled, Constantinople prospered.

Constantinople

Culture

Promoted a brilliant civilization that blended ancient Greek, Roman, and Christian influences with other traditions of the Mediterranean World.

The Age The Age of Justinian

Justinian Theodora

The Age of Justinian: Byzantine Emperor

(AD 527-565)

Wanted to recover what had been lost during the fall of Rome

Re-conquered N. Africa, Italy and southern Spain Victories were temporary

o Justinian rebuilt Constantinople; a huge achievements was the church of Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

http://youtu.be/6zyRjx4ZsuU

Age of Justinian: Code of Laws Reforms the law Justinian’s Code – organized all the laws of

ancient Rome… Fairer to women

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

Children allowed to choose their own marriage partners.

Slavery was legal Punishments were detailed and fit the crime Inspired the modern concept and the very spelling

of "justice”

Age of Justinian (527 -565): Absolute Power

Justinian ruled as an autocrat with the help of Theodora.

Created a huge Christian empire that reached its greatest size

Autocrat – ruler who has complete authority

Byzantine Christianity

Christianity as influential in Byzantine empire as was in Western Europe. But…

Religious division grew between the two regions Dispute over use of icons (Holy Images) Byzantine Emperor outlawed prayer to icons

Two branches of Christianity grew further apart 1054 provoked a permanent split between

Byzantine, Eastern (Greek) Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church

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