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Life in the New Rome
• Hippodrome-Massive stadium that held 60,000 spectators and offered free chariot races and performances.– The site of the Nika
Rebellion
Life in the New Rome • Nika Rebellion-532 A.D. Two
groups of angry protestors sparked city wide riots shouting “Nika” (meaning “Victory”) while also calling for the overthrow of Justinian and his government. – Justinian sent in his troops and
slaughtered all 30,000 protestors inside of the Hippodrome
Life in the New Rome
• Empress Theodora- – Married Justinian in 525 A.D.– Former burlesque dancer – Most powerful woman in Byzantine history – Political Responsibilities-
• Met foreign envoys
• Passed laws
• Wrote to foreign leaders
• Built Churches
The Empire Falls
• The Plague of Justinian-542 A.D. The bubonic plague swept through Constantinople killing nearly 10,000 people a day
The Empire Falls
• Attacks from East and West– Byzantium faced constant
attacks• In order to keep their
enemies at bay the Byzantines used:
– Bribes
– Diplomacy
– Political marriages
– Military power
The Church Divides
• Eastern Orthodox Christianity– Patriarch-Leading bishop of the church
• Still under the authority of the emperor
– Icons-Religious images used in the Orthodox faith
• Roman Catholicism-– Pope-Head of the Catholic church
• Answers to God alone
– Excommunication-• Means you exiled or are outcast from
the church