Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Byzantine Empire
Essential Question?????
How did the Byzantine Empire preserve the political and cultural heritage of Rome?
Supporting QuestionsWhat were three of Justinian's major
accomplishments?
Time Line: The Byzantine Empire
Date Event
330 Constantine makes Constantinople his capital
527 Justinian becomes Emperor
532-537 Justinian builds the church of Hagia Sophia
1054 The Church in Rome breaks from the Church in Constantinople
1204 Constantinople is occupied by crusaders
------- --------
------- --------
Setting the Scene: Eastern Roman empire becomes known as the Byzantine empire
Remember… invaders pounded the Roman empire in the
west and so emperors shifted base to eastern Mediterranean.
Constantinople
Constantine becomes the sole Emperor of the Roman Empire.
Constantine found new capital for himself and chose Byzantium (today’s Istanbul)
Emperor Constantine rebuilt the Greek city of Byzantium and gave it the name: Constantinople. Becomes “new Rome”
As cities of western roman Empire crumbled, Constantinople prospered.
Constantinople
Culture
Promoted a brilliant civilization that blended ancient Greek, Roman, and Christian influences with other traditions of the Mediterranean World.
The Age The Age of Justinian
Justinian Theodora
The Age of Justinian: Byzantine Emperor
(AD 527-565)
Wanted to recover what had been lost during the fall of Rome
Re-conquered N. Africa, Italy and southern Spain Victories were temporary
o Justinian rebuilt Constantinople; a huge achievements was the church of Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Age of Justinian: Code of Laws Reforms the law Justinian’s Code – organized all the laws of
ancient Rome… Fairer to women
Can own property and raise their own children after their husbands died.
Children allowed to choose their own marriage partners.
Slavery was legal Punishments were detailed and fit the crime Inspired the modern concept and the very spelling
of "justice”
Age of Justinian (527 -565): Absolute Power
Justinian ruled as an autocrat with the help of Theodora.
Created a huge Christian empire that reached its greatest size
Autocrat – ruler who has complete authority
Byzantine Christianity
Christianity as influential in Byzantine empire as was in Western Europe. But…
Religious division grew between the two regions Dispute over use of icons (Holy Images) Byzantine Emperor outlawed prayer to icons
Two branches of Christianity grew further apart 1054 provoked a permanent split between
Byzantine, Eastern (Greek) Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church
Icons
