From Rome to Byzantium

Exploring the transformation of the Roman Empire

Decline of the Roman EmpireCause Effect

Migrations and invasions of neighboring groups lead to border conflicts.

Rome’s army is spread too thin to easily defend its large border.

Maintaining a large, successful empire is expensive.

There are no more people to conquer for resources and slaves.

The character of the Romans themselves has changed as more non-natives become citizens.

There is a decline in the spirit of the Romans as they tend to care more about personal interests.

Emperor Constantine (287-337 CE)

•He began to support Christianity after his victory at the Milvian Bridge.

•This led to Christianity becoming the official religion of the empire.

•He moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople.

•Constantinople was located in the eastern part of the empire, which was safer

and closer to the “action”.

Chi-Rho Sign

Arch of Constantine in Rome

Why Byzantium?

•Centrally located in the eastern empire•Safer from the attacks occurring in the west•Located at the hub of several important trade routes•Wealthy due to its location•Peninsula is easier to defend

Art Connections: When the capital of the Roman empire was moved to Byzantium (Constantinople), the people of the Byzantine empire still considered themselves

Romans. Notice how some Roman art is similar to Byzantine Christian art.

Roman sculpture of Orpheus as a Good Shepherd Byzantine icon of Jesus as the Good Shepherd

Can you guess what this Byzantine relief sculpture is trying to show?

Fall of the City of Rome•Fell in 476 CE•Sacked by Theodoric the Goth•Last emperor was Augustulus

•Western Empire collapses•Ends the dominance of the city of Rome•Empire shrinks and power fully shifts to Constantinople in the east

Emperor Justinian

Justinian (482-565 CE)•Used his army to expand the Byzantine empire to nearly the size of the original Roman one•Established a code of laws called the Justinian Code•Developed a strong economy based on the beneficial location of Constantinople•Empress Theodora supported laws that were more fair to women and people of varying social classes

Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, who began their

reign in 527 CE

The red writing at the bottom of this scroll indicates that it is an official decree from the emperor.The Greek writing on this scroll was more widely used than Latin.

Signs of Byzantine

Wealth

Silk FabricSilver Spoons Gold and

enamel devotional pendant

Gold sealing on parchment

Mosaics: Used to decorate wealthy homes during Roman times, mosaics were a complicated art form perfected by the Byzantines. Small pieces (tesserae) of colored stone, marble, gems, and glass were arranged to create pictures. Depending on the size of the pieces used, a mosaicist could cover up to fifteen feet of wall a day.

Mosaic of Empress TheodoraMosaic of the Virgin Mary and Jesus

Christianity in the Byzantine Empire•Justinian and Theodora were both Christians.•They disagreed about certain religious ways.•People who followed other forms of Christianity were protected.•Five hundred years later, the Christian church split over the issue of icons.

Church items, such as lamps and crossesStole for a priest

Icons•Holy pictures of Jesus and the saints•Used by people during prayer•Some Christians considered this idol worship.•Others felt icons were a good way to educate people who could not read.

Icon of the Church Fathers

Icon of St. George

Byzantine Legacy

•The Byzantine Empire lasted until 1453 when conquered by the Ottoman Turks.•The Byzantines preserved elements of the Roman world.•As a Christian empire, they spread Christianity throughout the region.•Justinian’s Code influenced future European governments.•Remaining churches are still used today or have been converted into Muslim mosques.

Icon of a Byzantine cross