The Survival of the Eastern Empire By Mr. Dayton.

The Survival of the Eastern

Empire

By Mr. Dayton

Power Shifts to

the East

The Rise of Constantine•Constantine fought several rivals for control of the empire

•He began life as a pagan• Belief in many gods

•By the time he became sole ruler (after great victory in 324), he had become a Christian

Power Shifts to

the East

The Rise of Constantine

•He moved the capitol from Rome to Byzantium

•Changed the name to Constantinople (today know as Istanbul, Turkey)

•Citizens thought of themselves as Romans

•Byzantine used by historians to describe the empire

Power Shifts to

the EastThe New Capitol

•Strait that links Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea

•Between southeast Europe and southwest Asia

•Rick trade - because of waterways/harbors and caravan tracks

Power Shifts to

the EastThe New Capitol

•Constantine use wealth to make as magnificent as Rome

•Easier to defend• Because it was on a peninsula,

most of the city was surrounded by water

• Thick walls and moat protected land

•Western Empire fell in 476 – Eastern (Byzantine) Empire survives

Justinian and Theodora

• Justinian is considered the first great Byzantine emperor

• He ruled for almost 40 years

• He was a peasant and followed his uncle in the army – battled his way to the throne

• Theodora’s father was a bear trainer in the circus – she became a performer

• Both talented, intelligent, and self-confident

Justinian and Theodora

Justinian’s Conquests•Dreamed of restoring Rome’s lost empire

•Won back most land along Mediterranean

•Did this for 30 years

•Many wars left empire with sever money problems

•Outsiders gradually chip away at the empire

Justinian and Theodora

Justinian’s Legacy•Greatest gift was the Justinian Code – the foundation for many legal systems

•In 532 an urban revolt challenged Justinian’s power

•He crushed the revolt gaining absolute power

Justinian and TheodoraJustinian’s Legacy•Revolt destroyed most of the city

•Launched a massive rebuilding project

•Greatest building was a church – Hagia Sophia (HAY jee uh soh FEE uh)