The Byzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire

By Bryan Burton, Jesse By Bryan Burton, Jesse Wagner, and Makayla Wagner, and Makayla

MorrisMorris

Who Were the Byzantines?Who Were the Byzantines?

The Byzantines were a Greek speaking The Byzantines were a Greek speaking eastern Roman empire of the Middle Ages.eastern Roman empire of the Middle Ages.

Lasted from about 306 AD to 1453 AD. Lasted from about 306 AD to 1453 AD. Centered around capitol of Constantinople. Centered around capitol of Constantinople. Ruled by emperors in direct succession of Ruled by emperors in direct succession of

the Roman rulers.the Roman rulers. It remained an economic, military, and It remained an economic, military, and

cultural powerhouse despite losing cultural powerhouse despite losing territory throughout the years. territory throughout the years.

Where did They Come From?Where did They Come From?

It is impossible to find an exact date for when It is impossible to find an exact date for when they separated from the Romans.they separated from the Romans.

It was a gradual process, and the concept of a It was a gradual process, and the concept of a separate Byzantine Empire is a phrase coined my separate Byzantine Empire is a phrase coined my modern historians. modern historians.

However, Emperor Constantine I moved the However, Emperor Constantine I moved the capital from Nicomedia to Byzantium (Later capital from Nicomedia to Byzantium (Later renamed Constantinople) in 324, marking a renamed Constantinople) in 324, marking a turning point in their history.turning point in their history.

The citizens of the time referred to themselves as The citizens of the time referred to themselves as a part of the Roman Empire or as Romania.a part of the Roman Empire or as Romania.

HistoryHistory Christianity grew rapidly in the area especially Christianity grew rapidly in the area especially

after Constantine I.after Constantine I. After splitting with Rome, they went through After splitting with Rome, they went through

many Dynasties. many Dynasties. The Byzantine Empire gradually grew smaller and The Byzantine Empire gradually grew smaller and

smaller. By 650, it was less than half of its smaller. By 650, it was less than half of its original size. original size.

Poor leaders and an inability to enforce the laws Poor leaders and an inability to enforce the laws led to their shrinking territory.led to their shrinking territory.

They were involved in several wars, including the They were involved in several wars, including the Muslim Wars and Bulgarian Wars. Muslim Wars and Bulgarian Wars.

The Black Plague and Arab invasions also harmed The Black Plague and Arab invasions also harmed their society.their society.

Councils of NicaeaCouncils of Nicaea Constantine I was somewhat involved, however it Constantine I was somewhat involved, however it

is speculated that he participated in hope of is speculated that he participated in hope of political gain, not because he was a believer. political gain, not because he was a believer.

Resulted in first uniform Christian doctrine: the Resulted in first uniform Christian doctrine: the Creed of Nicaea.Creed of Nicaea.

Purpose was to define beliefs of all of Christianity.Purpose was to define beliefs of all of Christianity. Solidified belief of role of Christ and defined what Solidified belief of role of Christ and defined what

it is to believe in the Apostles and Christ. it is to believe in the Apostles and Christ. Decided on the official date of Easter.Decided on the official date of Easter. Dealt with technicalities of Christianity.Dealt with technicalities of Christianity. Controversy as to how much influence the various Controversy as to how much influence the various

Councils had over the formation of the modern Councils had over the formation of the modern Bible.Bible. – They may have selected some of the books that are a They may have selected some of the books that are a

part of the Bible. part of the Bible.

The CrusadesThe Crusades

Pope Urban II called a Council of Clermont and Pope Urban II called a Council of Clermont and encouraged the people of Western Europe to encouraged the people of Western Europe to partake in a armed pilgrimage to drive the partake in a armed pilgrimage to drive the Muslims out of Jerusalem.Muslims out of Jerusalem. – Wanted to aid the persecuted Christians there Wanted to aid the persecuted Christians there

and to expand his own power.and to expand his own power. This was called the First Crusade, which was This was called the First Crusade, which was

quickly followed by the Second Crusade.quickly followed by the Second Crusade. Eventually a Third and Fourth Crusade occurred, Eventually a Third and Fourth Crusade occurred,

temporarily expanding the Byzantine Empire’s temporarily expanding the Byzantine Empire’s influence.influence.

CultureCulture Byzantine was an economic powerhouse. They Byzantine was an economic powerhouse. They

had a uniform system of coinage to help regulate had a uniform system of coinage to help regulate the economy.the economy.– Constantinople was a mecca for trade. The silk road Constantinople was a mecca for trade. The silk road

also expanded their aspirations.also expanded their aspirations. They had very few contributions to science until They had very few contributions to science until

the Renaissance when they expanded knowledge the Renaissance when they expanded knowledge of mathematics and astronomy.of mathematics and astronomy.

Christianity became popular in Byzantine, but it Christianity became popular in Byzantine, but it was never uniform. The Eastern Orthodox church was never uniform. The Eastern Orthodox church and the Nestorians (now called the Assyrian and the Nestorians (now called the Assyrian Church of the East) were two of the most popular Church of the East) were two of the most popular denominations. denominations.

The Jews were a constant minority.The Jews were a constant minority.

Culture (cont.)Culture (cont.)

Byzantine art dealt with religion and church Byzantine art dealt with religion and church theology.theology.– Influenced Italian Renaissance art.Influenced Italian Renaissance art.

They also had unique and influential architecture. They also had unique and influential architecture. The Byzantines wrote a lot of literature, primarily The Byzantines wrote a lot of literature, primarily

religious manuscripts and poetry.religious manuscripts and poetry. Primary languages were Greek and Latin, but being Primary languages were Greek and Latin, but being

a major trade area other languages became a major trade area other languages became popular including Syriac, Aramaic, Coptic, popular including Syriac, Aramaic, Coptic, Armenian, Georgian, Slavonic, Vlach, Arabic, and Armenian, Georgian, Slavonic, Vlach, Arabic, and Chinese.Chinese.

GovernmentGovernment

Byzantine emperors were absolute Byzantine emperors were absolute and regarded as having divine origin. and regarded as having divine origin.

They also had a bureaucracy of They also had a bureaucracy of courts and the military. courts and the military. – This was ordered and flexible according to the This was ordered and flexible according to the

empire’s situation. empire’s situation. – Many individuals were a part of the Many individuals were a part of the

government simply for their own good or the government simply for their own good or the Emperor’s personal gain, not for the good of Emperor’s personal gain, not for the good of the empire.the empire.

Lasting ImpactLasting Impact

Byzantine was the only stable long term Byzantine was the only stable long term European nation in the Middle Ages and server as European nation in the Middle Ages and server as a barrier between Asia and Western Europe. a barrier between Asia and Western Europe. – It was constantly under attack, shielding the western It was constantly under attack, shielding the western

world. world. They had a big influence on the growing religion They had a big influence on the growing religion

of Christianity. of Christianity. Their culture and ideas ran opposite of that of Their culture and ideas ran opposite of that of

Western Europe. Western Europe. Byzantine also influenced art and literature. Byzantine also influenced art and literature.

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.metmuseum.org/http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/byzantium/time.htmlexplore/byzantium/time.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_EmpireByzantine_Empire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_NicaeaFirst_Council_of_Nicaea