THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
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THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
• Who were the Byzantines?
• Which territories did the Byzantine Empire consist of?
• Do you know any important element of their culture?
Which one?
TOPICS
0. Who were the Byzantines? (Main characteristics)
1. Territorial development
2. Political organisation
3. Economy
4. Society
5. Religion
6. Art
0. Who were the Byzantines? (Main characteristics)
• The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, that was able to repeal attacks by the barbarians.
• The capital was Constantinople after the Roman emperor Constantius.
• They talked Greek.
• They are Christians. CONSTANTIUS
1. Territorial development
From 476 to 1453
At the beginning of the 6th century (500-599)
From the 11th century (1000 -1099)
By the start of 15th century (1400 – 1499)
They are at the top!! Emperor JUSTINIAN
They began to fall Crisis
The empire is very small… In 1453 the Turks
conquered Constantinople. The end of the Byzantine
Empire.
1. Territorial development
The evolution of the empire
1. Territorial development
At the beginning of the 6th century…
• The Byzantine Empire covered Greece, the Balkans, the Anatolian Peninsula, Syria, Palestine and Egypt.
• The most important emperor in this period in JUSTINIAN.
• He conquered some of the territories of the Western Roman Empire: the Italian Peninsula, the north of Africa and the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula.
• After his death, the empire began to lose all the conquered territories in Western Europe.
1. Territorial development
At the beginning of the 6th century…
JUSTINIAN (527-565)
He was important for three reasons:
• Conquer many territories.
• Compile a code of Roman and Byzantine laws (Justinian´s code).
• Order to build Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.
1. Territorial development
From the 11th century…
The Empire begin to have many problems:
• Has to fight against many external enemies: the Persians, the Muslims and the Ottoman Turks.
• Political crisis because of fighting between the nobles for control of the imperial throne.
• Religious crisis: the Schism (1054).
1. Territorial development
By the start of 15th century…
• The Empire had been reduced to Constantinople, some Thracian cities and part of the Peloponnese.
• In 1453, the Ottoman Turks conquered the capital Constantinople.
• This is not only the end of the Byzantine Empire but also the end of the Middle Ages and beginning of the Modern Period.
1453 The fall of Constantinople
ACTIVITIES
1. Relate periods with facts.
11th century The empire become very small
1453 The time of emperor Justinian
15th century Byzantine empire begin to fall
6th century Turks conquer Constantinople
ACTIVITIES
2. Why was emperor Justinian so important? Give three reason.
2. Political organisation
2. Political organisation
• The emperor (called Basileus) had absolute power.
o He was the head of the army, the supreme legislator and the supreme judge.
o He elected the head of the Church (the patriarch of Constantinople).
• Byzantine territories was divided into themes or provinces. Each province was ruled by a strategoi under the direct order of the emperor.
• There was an efficient administration system run by many skilled officials.
• At the beginning of the Empire the army was formed by local troops but later was necessary to recruit mercenaries.
Emperor Justinian surrounded by members of his court
ACTIVITIES
3. Complete the sentences.
a) The highest political authority was the _________.
b) Byzantine territories was divided into _________.
c) The ruler of a province was called a ___________.
d) The army recruited ___________ to fight the
empire´s enemies.
3. Economy
AGRICULTURE • Was one of the main sources of wealth. • Each theme specialised in growing just one crop:
olives, cereals, etc.
CRAFTWORK • Was important in some cities. • They made silk, jewellery and perfume.
TRADE
• Was a significant activity during the 11th century.
• The trade routes linking the East to the West came together in Constantinople.
• Were exported: textiles, wine, jewels, etc. • Were imported: furs, ivory, spices, precious
stones and perfume.
ACTIVITIES
4. Which of these products did the Byzantine import and which did they export?
Ivory, textiles, wine, precious stones, perfume, furs, jewels, spices.
They imported… They exported..
4. Society
RULING CLASS
Big rural landowners
• Owned large estates called latifundia.
• Held high positions in the administration and army.
• Lived in cities.
High officials
Wealthy merchants
LOWER CLASS
Small merchant
Craftsmen - organised into collegia.
Peasants – Owners of small plots. Had to pay taxes.
Coloni – Worked for the big rural landowners.
Slaves
ACTIVITIES
5. Read the sentence and say to which Byzantine social group each person belong?
a) Filareto is the owner of an extensive area of
agricultural land.
b) Miguel works the land he has rented from Filareto.
c) Demetrius is a member of the perfumer´s guild, just
like his father and grandfather.
5. Religion
• They were Christians. • They followed the Pope. • Over time Byzantine churches began to create
their own rites. • This causes problems between churches from
Constantinople and Rome.
5. Religion
• Finally, in 1054 took place the divorce between the two churches: The Catholic Church of Rome, led by the Pope. The Orthodox Church of Constantinople, led by
the Patriarch. • It was called The Schism.
The Pope of Rome and the Patriarch of Constantinople, nowadays.
6. Art
ARCHITECTURE Byzantine architecture is characterised by the following elements:
Semicircular arch
6. Art
ARCHITECTURE What is the plan of a building?
The plan is a drawing representing the base of a building.
6. Art
ARCHITECTURE Byzantine architecture is characterised by the use of two types of plan:
GREEK-CROSS PLANT Plan in the shape of a cross with four arms
of equal length
6. Art
ARCHITECTURE
BASILICA PLANT Rectangular plant
6. Art
ARCHITECTURE
CUPULA Dome
Hemispherical roof
6. Art
ARCHITECTURE • The most characteristics buildings were churches. • Among the most distinctive are: Hagia Sophia in Constantinople St. Mark´s Basilica in Venice.
Hagia Sophia in Constantinople
St Mark´s basilica in Venice
6. Art
MOSAICS • A mosaic is a picture or design made of small
pieces of coloured stone or glass. • The walls were decorated with mosaics.
Theodora and ladies of the court
6. Art
PAINTING • Icons were very popular. • They were painted on wood and showed images of
the saints, Christ and the Virgin. • The painted figures are flat (one-dimensional) and
have rigid and unnatural expression.
Byzantine icons
THE END By José Luis Alcaide
Geography and History teacher
IES Puerta de la Axarquía
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