BYZANTINE EMPIRE330 - 1453

Geography and Background

• Shores of the Bosporus (Mediterranean Black Sea)

• Excellent harbor, protected on 3 sides

• Founded by Constantine • Central trade location – what happens as a result?

What do the straits connect?

What is being traded?

Justinian (527-565 CE)

• Imperial Absolutism– Autocrat

• Revive “Rome”• Re-conquered N.

Africa, Italy, S. Spain• But at what expense?

Justinian's Law – a means to unite the empire• Revise/organize

Roman Law– All laws passed by

Roman assemblies, decreed by Emperors, legal writings of judges

• Impact and influence– Roman Catholic

Church– Medieval monarchs– Preserved the heritage

of Roman law – Greek philosophy,

science, and math too

Drama* at the Hippodrome!• Iron rule let to riots• Theodora

– “If flight were the only means of safety I would not flee. Those who have worn the crown should never survive its loss….Emperor, if you wish to flee, well and good, you have the money, the ships are ready, the sea is clear. But I shall stay. I accept the ancient proverb: Royal purple is the best burial sheet”

– Stays and crushes revolt

• 30,000 die

*Drama means death

Byzantine Christianity • Battle over icons

– 700s – Emperor outlaws veneration (worship) of icons

– Battle ensues… – Icons return but feelings

remain hurt– 1054 – Differences lead to

the schism between Eastern (Greek) Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches

– Pope/Patriarch excommunicate each other

• Church and state– Christ’s co-ruler

• Patriarch – highest church official (appointed by emperor)

• Reject Pope’s authority• Clergy can marry• Greek, not Latin, was the

church language

East v. West

Hagia Sophia

- Built under Justinian

- Similarities/Differences to Roman art?

Buffer to Invaders• Stave off Muslim attacks

– Lose Egypt and Syria– Held onto

the Balkans

Buffer for who?

Collapse!

• Crusades (4th one…)- 1204, regained 50 yrs

later

• Ottoman siege in 1453 by Mehmed II– Cannons – Renamed Istanbul – Hagia Sophia

becomes a mosque

The Ottoman’s empire

Name: _____________ Mr. Massie

Geography and Background: Art and Architecture:

Justinian:

Religion: