Unit 4 - Byzantine Empire Decline, Reasons for the Survival of the Byzantine Empire & The...

Unit 4 - Byzantine Empire

Decline, Reasons for the Survival of the Byzantine Empire & The

Byzantine Legacy

The Decline of the Byzantine Empire

• The late Byzantine Empire continuously battled:– Slavs & Avars from the north– Persians Empire from the east– Islam from the south

• The empire declined further in the 11th century.– The Seljuk Turks (originally from Central Asia)

defeated the Byzantine army in 1071 & took possession of most of Asia Minor.

– Crusaders attacked the city in 1204– The Byzantines still controlled the Balkan

Peninsula & survived for another 400 years.

• The empire declined further in the 11th century.

– By the 1440’s, (because of constant attacks) the empire was reduced to a small area just around the city of Constantinople.

– In 1453, Constantinople was finally conquered by the Ottoman Turks.

Reasons for the Survival of the Byzantine Empire

Classical Cultures• Benefited from a rich infusion of Greek,

Roman, Christian & Middle Eastern cultures.

Location• Crossroads of Europe & Asia.• Because of the trade, Constantinople became

very wealthy.

Strong Central Government• Ruled by a series of powerful emperors.• Strong centralized administration• A single set of laws.

Large Army• Government taxed merchants & peasants to

support a large standing army.

The Byzantine Legacy

Preserved Ancient Cultures• Preserved the rich heritage of classical

civilizations including:– Greek Philosophy & science– Roman engineering– Copies of ancient texts were saved despite

destruction in the west.

Code of Justinian• Justinian consolidated Roman Laws into a

single legal code which served as a guide on most legal questions.

• It greatly influenced later Western legal systems.

New form of Christianity• Eastern Orthodox Christianity was led by the

Patriarch & the emperor of Constantinople rather than the Pope in Rome.

The Arts• Renowned for their mosaics, painted icons,

gold jewelry & silks.• Hagia Sophia is considered one of the world’s

most beautiful buildings.

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