Byzantine Empire (330-1453)

Definition

• Byzantine: this term is a modern invention. The

Byzantines called themselves either ‘Romans’ or

‘Greeks’. It was used for the medieval Greek-

speaking, Christian empire that dominated the

eastern Mediterranean.

• In antiquity, because of its strategic location, it

was an important center for the transport of corn

to Attica.

Definition

• 1. an ornate artistic and architectural style that

developed in the Byzantine Empire and spread

esp. to Italy and Russia. The art is generally

stylized (as in religious icons) and the architecture

typified by many-domed, highly decorated

churches.

• 2.- (of a system or situation) excessively

complicated, typically involving a great deal of

administrative detail. "Byzantine regulations"

• - characterized by deviousness or underhanded

procedure. "Byzantine intrigues"

Diocletian’s Empire

The origins

• Rome: Too Big

• Rome had grown too big for effective rule.

• Rome was too far away and the provinces often did not do as they were instructed

• The Western Roman Empire- Capital in Rome

• The Eastern Roman Empire- Capital in Byzantium

•

The origins

• The ruler of the Western Roman Empire was seen as the senior ruler of Rome

• Diocletian then moved to rule the Eastern Roman Empire. He brought with him much of West Rome’s wealth

• 292: Diocletian divides the Roman empire into two.

• 324: Constantine reunites the two parts

• 330: Constantine builds a new capital in the location of ancient Byzantium

• 337: The death of Constantine results in division between east and west.

Constantinople

• Successive emperors

build strong walls,

palaces, churches,

gardens, aqueducts

and made the city the

biggest, strongest and

most enlightened city

of medieval

Christendom The Walls of Theodosius

Cistern Basilica

The early years

• East and West divided again, permanently.

• Christianity required

• 396: Prohibition of Olympic Games

Hippodrome

The Fall of Rome

• Barbarian tribes keep

pushing into a fragmented

and weakened Roman

Empire.

• The east through bribery,

diplomacy and better

military resists effectively

• 476: Rome Falls

The Last Legion

The Age of Justinian (527-75) The Peasant Emperor

• 536: Reconquest of Rome and much of Italy took many years.

• North Africa and the Spanish coast were easily conquered.

• Victories over Sassanid Persia in the east consolidate the borders

• Control didn’t last—distrust of army leadership; withdraw to fight Persians

Justinian’s Legacy

• Hagia Sophia remained the seat of Eastern Christianity until the Fall of Constantinople.

• 552: Byzantine monks sneak silkworms and mulberry out of China.

• Justinian orders the codification of Roman law (Corpus Iuris Civilis). (Basis of most legal system in Europe and…Louisiana

• He was harsh regarding heresies

– Riots…nearly abdicated till wife shamed him

• In 529 he closed the philosophical school of Athens, thus destroying the last stronghold of paganism.

Hagia Sophia, Church of the Holy Wisdom, 6th c.

The Byzantine empire in 565, at its largest expansion ever.

The Struggle with the Persians

• Justinian and his successors were locked into a titanic struggle with an old enemy and won.

• 627: Heraclios crushes the Persians at Nineveh.

• However, both Byzantines and Persians were exhausted and vulnerable to the Arabs and Islam.

• Islamic armies take territory, but not the core of the empire

The Empire in 668

The religious art of Byzantium

• Intellectual, idealistic,

schematic, with

restrained colors and

reserved form.

• Realism is rare and

undesirable

• The objective is the

spiritual elevation of

the believer

Icons and Iconoclasm

• Icons are sacred images representing the saints, Christ, and the Virgin, as well as scenes such as Christ's Crucifixion. Icons could be in marble, ivory, ceramic, gemstone, precious metal, mosaic, etc.

• Iconoclasm literally means "image breaking" and refers to destruction of images for religious or political reasons.

Iconoclasm

• The Isaurians, followed by the Phrygian dynasty tried to abolish icons. (The Old Testament prohibits worshipping graven images)

• This divided the empire. (This will be one of the issues that divides the Catholic Church)

• Icons were restored as objects of veneration but not worship by two ecumenical councils under the leadership of two powerful women, Empress Irene the Athenian, and Theodora, Empress consort to Theophilos.

The Golden Years of Byzantium

Emperor Basil

• Emperor The 50 years following Basil’s death were years of prosperity and growth.

• Constantine VIII (1025-28) was never interested in ruling.

• At his death his daughter Zoe became empress.

• Her accession was the greatest calamity for Basil’s empire

Empress Zoe

Zoe’s Husbands

• Romanos III Argyros

• (1028-34). Reversed Basil’s financial arrangements and suffered a defeat in the east which cost him popularity. Probably murdered by Zoe

• Michael IV Paphlagonian (1034-41), a reasonably successful emperor.

• Constantine IX Monomachos (1042-1055)

• A military disaster Constantine IX

The empire in 1092

Islamic Seljuk Turks take most of Asia Minor

The Empire in 1143

• Empire further weakened by Western

European armies

The Fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders , 1204

The Latin Empire of Constantinople

The Fall of Constantinople

• The world turned its eyes

on a depopulated

Constantinople in the

spring of 1453.

• A shadow of its former

glory the imperial city fell

after months of siege.

• Constantine XI, the last

emperor became the

subject of legends.

The Legacy of Byzantium

• International trade blocked

– Age of Exploration

• Emigration of Hellenistic culture to

Western Europe

– Renaissance

• Basis of legal system in Western Europe

The Legacy of Byzantium

• Russia assumes Byzantine mantle

– Tsar, Church, Architecture

What Becomes of

Constantinople?