UNIT III THE BYZANTINE, RUSSIAN, AND MONGOL EMPIRES.

U N I T I I I

THE BYZANTINE, RUSSIAN, AND MONGOL EMPIRES

THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE, OR EAST ROMAN EMPIRE… OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT!

THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE TRACED ITS ROOTS TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE

THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE CAPTURES THE FORMER WEST

• Justinian I (482-565) is credited for the Byzantine Empire’s recapturing of the west as a result of his status.

• Belisarius (500-565) was a General who was instrumental in the Byzantine Empire’s recapturing of the former western half of the empire.

WHO WAS JUSTINIAN?

• Known as the “Last Roman”• Unpopular ruler• Financial problems

from conquest and local projects • Heavily influenced

(possibly controlled) by his wife, the Empress Theodora

THE BYZANTINE OR ROMAN EMPIRE?

• The Byzantine empire used the structures left in place by the Romans• Most notably the law

code, sometimes referred to as Justinian's Code

• Amazing feats in architecture were made (using Greek & Roman influence)• The Empire hit its peak

under Justinian

THE GREAT SCHISM

• The Bishop in Constantinople split from the Catholic Church.

• Disputes over communion, priest marriage, and excommunication

• First major fractioning of Christianity

• The split would shape Europe for centuries

• Rome no longer had any authority over the Byzantine Empire

I Know The Pieces Fit!

AREAS THAT BECAME ORTHODOX

FALL OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

• Constantinople became the center for law, art, and religion• The city was the heart of Byzantine culture• The Empire fell in 1453 after a steady decline• The Empire fell when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman

Turks • The Ottomans

would change Constantinople's name to Istanbul.

• Istanbul became an important Islamic city.

• The center of the Orthodox world moved to Moscow.

THE ORIGINS OF MOTHER RUSSIA

KIEVAN RUS

• Kiev was a center for trade, but susceptible to attack.• The Rus converted to

Byzantine Christianity.• Kiev can be

considered the predecessor state for modern Russia. • Kiev was eventually

defeated by the Mongols in 1240.

THE MONGOLS FEAST IN MOSCOW AFTER A DECISIVE VICTORY

MUSCOVY RUS

• Known as Appendage Russia (under the Mongols)

• Khanate of the Golden Horde

• Moscow becomes the most important economic and political Russian city under the Mongols

• Muscovite Princes become “tax collectors” • Muscovite Princes had to be

appointed my the Mongols

• Population shift to the northwest begins

MUSCOVY RUS

IVAN III (IVAN THE GREAT)

• Asserted Russian independence from the Mongols• Modeled his empire

after the Byzantine Empire • Conquered and

declared himself ruler of all Russian people • Took title “Tsar”

meaning Caesar • Established the first

united Russian State

THE MONGOL EMPIRE

THE MONGOL EMPIRE

• Established by Chinggis Khan• Declared ruler of all Mongols

in 1206

• Largest land Empire of all time by 1279

• Influenced Russia, China, and Persia• More indirectly they affected

Western Europe• But not India…

• Like Alexander, little administration

• Ruthless but tolerant?• Religious tolerance

THE MONGOLS IN PERSIANOTE THE WRITTEN LANGUAGE USED

THE EMPIRE SPLIT INTO FOUR

• After the Great Kahn’s death, wars over succession were fought by decedents

• Kublai Khan established Chinese portion of the Empire • This land was protected by water to the east• Big advantage over the other successor states

MARCO POLO VISITS CHINA

• Marco Polo - an Italian explorer visited the court of Kublai Khan

• He traveled by sea, avoiding the Himalayas

• First European to document his visit to China

• Encouraged European trade to East Asia

• Inspired the European age of exploration