The Byzantine The Byzantine EmpireEmpireCoach ParrishCoach Parrish

OMSOMS

Chapter 10, Section 1Chapter 10, Section 1

Attempt at ConquestAttempt at Conquest

Prince Igor of Kiev (city in Russia), Prince Igor of Kiev (city in Russia), watched as his ships sailed across the watched as his ships sailed across the Black Sea in 941 AD.Black Sea in 941 AD.

Prince Igor was sure that his fleet would Prince Igor was sure that his fleet would capture capture ConstantinopleConstantinople – capital of the – capital of the Byzantine Empire.Byzantine Empire.

Instead of winning, he watched as his Instead of winning, he watched as his ships were destroyed by “Greek Fire.” ships were destroyed by “Greek Fire.” This weapon gave the Byzantines power This weapon gave the Byzantines power in the Mediterranean Sea.in the Mediterranean Sea.

Greek FireGreek Fire

Constantinople at a Constantinople at a CrossroadsCrossroads

Following the Roman Empire, two Following the Roman Empire, two groups controlled what we now call groups controlled what we now call the Middle East.the Middle East.

1.1. Christian ByzantinesChristian Byzantines

2.2. Muslim Arabs and TurksMuslim Arabs and Turks Sometimes the two groups shared Sometimes the two groups shared

power and sometimes they fought power and sometimes they fought over the region.over the region.

Constantine and His Constantine and His CapitalCapital

Constantine began his rule of the Constantine began his rule of the enormous Roman Empire in 306 AD.enormous Roman Empire in 306 AD.

Two important things that Constantine Two important things that Constantine did: 1)Became a Christian and stopped did: 1)Became a Christian and stopped Christian persecution. 2) After 20 Christian persecution. 2) After 20 years of ruling in Rome, he built a new years of ruling in Rome, he built a new imperial capital.imperial capital.

His capital was called Constantinople, His capital was called Constantinople, and by 500 AD, contained large and by 500 AD, contained large markets, paved roads, a palace, public markets, paved roads, a palace, public baths, and a circus.baths, and a circus.

ConstantineConstantine

Constantine and His Constantine and His CapitalCapital

The emperors that followed Constantine The emperors that followed Constantine continued to rule from Constantinople.continued to rule from Constantinople.

Over time, the Roman Empire split in Over time, the Roman Empire split in two halves. The eastern half, where two halves. The eastern half, where Constantinople was located, was the Constantinople was located, was the strongest.strongest.

The eastern half was the strongest The eastern half was the strongest because of its military and wealth because of its military and wealth through trading.through trading.

TradeTrade

Constantinople was built at a major Constantinople was built at a major crossroads of land and sea trade routes.crossroads of land and sea trade routes.

Goods came from Kiev in the north, Goods came from Kiev in the north, from Egypt in the south, and across from Egypt in the south, and across Central Asia. The Byzantines charged Central Asia. The Byzantines charged taxes on all goods that went through taxes on all goods that went through the city.the city.

Over time, the Byzantine Empire grew Over time, the Byzantine Empire grew rich.rich.

Currency (Money)Currency (Money)

Fall of the Western Fall of the Western EmpireEmpire

By 350 AD, the western Roman Empire By 350 AD, the western Roman Empire was already in decline. Roman armies was already in decline. Roman armies were having difficulty holding back were having difficulty holding back invaders from Europe.invaders from Europe.

Germanic groups were coming closer Germanic groups were coming closer and closer to Rome itself. In 476, a and closer to Rome itself. In 476, a Germanic leader overthrew the emperor Germanic leader overthrew the emperor of Rome. (We will discuss this later of Rome. (We will discuss this later when we talk about the Roman Empire when we talk about the Roman Empire itself.)itself.)