Mediterranean Sea

Black Sea

Caspian Sea

Volga River

Dnieper River

Danube River

Nile River

Baltic Sea

Pyrenees Mts Alps

Mts

Caucasus Mts

Egypt

Greece

Spain

Persia

Syria

Asia Minor

Constantinople

Rome

Venice

Baghdad

Cairo

Damascus

Jerusalem

Granada

Cordoba

Tours

Medina

Mecca

Kiev

Moscow

Novgorod

Byzantine Empire, AD 1100Seljuk Empire, AD 1100

Early (Kievan) Russia, AD 1100

*The Byzantine EmpireThe “New Rome”

*AD 476:

*Western Rome fell due to barbarian invasions

*Eastern Rome survived for 1000 years (capital – Constantinople)

*Preserved Greek & Roman culture

*Byzantine Empire

Constantine moves capital to Byzantium

(renamed Constantinople)

Germanic tribes

(Franks and Goths) raid and sack

Rome

“Fall” of Western Roman

Empire

The Byzantin

e Empire!

Justinian becomes emperor

Taxpayer revolt

– crushed by Justinian

Byzantine Empire falls

to Ottoman Turks

1054 Catholic Church

splits- Roman

Catholic (West) &

Eastern Orthodox (East)

Rise of Culture and Cultural Diffusion

Dark ages

High Middle Ages Late Middle AgesBlack Death

*Constantinople: Where Europe & Asia Meet

Overlooked the Bosporus StraitRichest & largest European cityDominated economic life in the MediterraneanMajor center of trade between the east & west

*Constantinople

*Ventre’s Adventures

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBnlLOWFqgE

*Influential Leaders

Justinian - 6th century emperor (eastern empire)Took power in 527One of Byzantine’s greatest rulers

*Justinian & Theodora

Justinian’s wife Theodora was VERY influential during his reignWanted to improve the social standing of women; urged Justinian to give women more rights

*Justinian & Theodora

*Military Expansion

Belisarius:Peasant with little military experienceFriend of Theodora’sEventually appointed general of the Byzantine army

*Belisarius

*Nika Rebellion

Violent riot Occurred in Constantinople at the Hippodrome½ the city burned or destroyedThousands of people killed

When the taxpayers revolted Justinian wanted to flee Theodora advised against this course of actionJustinian stayed & with the Belasarius’ help his army crushed the rebels

*Belisarius & Expansion

In addition, Belisarius fought a series of wars against the Vandals, Ostrogoths & VisigothsThe Byzantines conquered these Germanic groups and extended their rule in the west

*War!!!!!

*Conflict in the Church

*Conflict in the ChurchDuring the 8th century a

church controversy arose over the use of icons (religious images) in worshipEastern church (Constantinople) vs. Western church (Rome)

*Conflict in the Church

In AD 726 Emperor Leo III ordered the removal of all icons Believed that they encouraged superstition & the worship of idolsSupporters known as iconoclasts, or icon breakers

Church officials resisted the Emperor’s demands & were supported by the Roman PopeResulted in an argument over the true source of religious authorityEastern church or western church? *Conflict in

the Church

*Conflict in the Church

The Pope, in Rome, claimed that he was the supreme leader of churchThe Patriarch, in Constantinople, claimed that he was the supreme leader of the church

*Conflict in the Church

This controversy eventually resulted in a schism (separation) in 1054Roman Catholic Church in the West & Eastern Orthodox Church in the East

*And Finally…

*Justinian’s Accomplishments

Expanded the EmpireJustinian’s CodeThe Hagia SophiaHelped spread ChristianityIncreased women's’ rights

*Decline of Empire

*The Plague of Justinian:

*In the worst year of the plague, 10,000 people died every day

*Destroyed a huge % of the empire’s population

*Decline of Empire

*Foreign Invasions:

*Attacks from the Avars, Slavs, Bulgars and Persians

*GREATLY weakened the empire

*Fall of ConstantinopleOttoman Turks from central

Asia attacked the Eastern provincesAD 1453 - Ottomans laid siege to ConstantinopleConstantinople fell…