CHAPTER 1: Byzantine and Muslim Civilizations SECTION 1: The Byzantine Empire

CHAPTER 1: Byzantine and Muslim Civilizations

SECTION 1: The Byzantine Empire

VOCABULARY

• Strait: (noun) A narrow passage that links two bodies of water

• Schism: (noun) A split, particularly in a church or religion

• Icon: (noun) An image of a holy person• Patriarch: (noun) Highest church official

in Constantinople

EMPEROR CONSTANTINE

• 306 AD he became the Roman Emperor• Stopped the persecution of Christians• Converted to Christianity himself after he wins

the Battle of Milvian Bridge – Christianity becomes the official religion of the empire

EMPEROR CONSTANTINE (Continued)

• 330 AD moves the capital city from Rome to Byzantium– Renames new capital

Constantinople (Map Page 9) (Means city of Constantine)

– People living around Constantinople still called Byzantines

Map of Byzantine Empire

THE ROMAN EMPIRE SPLITS

• After the death of Constantine, the Roman Emperors who followed him continued to rule from Constantinople

• Roman Empire splits in two– Eastern half is based in Constantinople

• Called The Byzantine Empire• Eastern half is more powerful

– Western half is based in Rome• Western half is weak• 476 AD Western half falls to the “Barbarians”


THE RISE OF THE CITY OF CONSTANTINOPLE

• City was located on the Bosporus Strait (Map Page 11)

– Bosporus Strait connects Black Sea with Mediterranean Sea

– Strait also is a link between Asia and Europe– This was a major crossroads of land and sea

trade routes

• As a result many trade goods passed through the city– Byzantines taxed these goods– Results in great wealth for the empire


DEFENDING CONSTANTINOPLE

• The city was built with great walls to prevent a successful attack

• The secret weapon “Greek Fire” repelled any attack from the sea

Map of the City of Constantinople


THE EMPEROR JUSTINIAN• His rule began in 527 AD • Presided over the Byzantium “Golden Age”• His wife, Empress Theodora, was an

influential advisor• Built the Hagia Sophia Cathedral

JUSTINIAN’S CODE• The code was a system of laws• Existing Roman Laws were confusing and

contradicting• The code was an organized collection and

explanation of Byzantine laws• Eventually this code became the basis of

the legal system we use today

A RELIGIOUS DISPUTE

• The Catholic Church and the Pope in Rome were still very strong

• The Byzantine Emperor outlaws icons• The Pope disagrees with this and banishes

the Emperor from the church• Byzantines felt the Pope was wrong to do

this • This argument leads to a schism

in 1054 AD– This results in two Christian Churches

A RELIGIOUS DISPUTE(Continued)

ROMANCATHOLIC CHURCH

EASTERNORTHODOX CHURCH

LEADERPope in Rome

Patriarch in Constantinople

LANGUAGE

Latin Greek

ICONS ?Yes

No (Until ban was lifted)

THE FALL OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

• A long series of wars against Muslims and Europeans weakens the empire

• Poor leadership from a series of bad emperors hurts as well



(Continued)• 70,000 Turks

surround the city of Constantinople– Turks drag their

ships over land and then launch them into the harbor

– Turks bring cannons to blast away the city walls

• Defending the city were only 7,000 Byzantines


(Continued 2)

• Finally, in 1453 AD, after the defenders hold out for 2 months, Constantinople falls

• The Byzantine Empire is no more


(Continued 3)

• The city is renamed Istanbul and to this day continues to be the capital city of the country of Turkey

Documents

CHAPTER 1: Byzantine and Muslim Civilizations SECTION 1: The Byzantine Empire