1 FROM JUSTINIAN TO THE CRUSADERS

2

NEW ENEMIES (565 – 717 AD)

Attacks of old and new enemies on the Byzantine Empire

Penetration into the inland Empire Transformation of temporary plunders to

permanent settlements Institution of new states in the geographical area

Land -limitation of the Empire Lingual, religious & cultural homogeneity

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NEW ENEMIES (565 – 717 AD)

Lombards Conquestof Italy & institution of the Lombard Kingdom

o Limitation of the byzantine lands in Italy

o Institution of the byzantine Exarchates of Ravenna & Africa (= administrative regions)

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NEW ENEMIES (565 – 717 AD) Avars

o Movement to the Northern Balkans, while forced by other tribes

o Temporary plunders of the Empireo Final settlement North of the Balkan Peninsular

Slavs

o Movement with the Avars to the Northern Balkans, forced or by their own will

o Settlement of their majority in the Northern Balkanso Invasions in the Empire, many times followed by

peaceful settlement (“sklavinias”) Gradual assimilation in the following centuries

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NEW ENEMIES (565 – 717 ΑD)

Bulgarians

o Movement to the NorthernBalkans

o Settlement &institution of the 1st Bulgarian State in the area between Danube & Hemus Mountain

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NEW ENEMIES (565 – 717 ΑD)

Persians

o Constant invasions in the eastern part of the Empire

o Conquest of Jerusalem & snatch of the Holy Cross (614 AD) Victorious war against them and recapture of the most important Christian symbol by Heraclius

o Siege of Constantinople by the Avars & Persians (626-7 AD) ( “Akathistos Hymnos”)

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NEW ENEMIES (565 – 717 AD)

Arabs

o Conquer of Persia & the former byzantine prefectures of Palestine, Syria &Egypt

o Invasion in Northern Africa, Spain & Minor Asia

o Evolution into also a marine force

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PERIOD OF REORGANIZATION (717 – 867 AD)

Dynasty of the Isaurians Victories against the

Bulgarians & the Arabs (East: 717AD unsuccessful siege of Constantinople – West: 732AD Poitiers) – use of the “liquid fire”

War on Icons (726-843 AD) Social conflicts

Christianization of the Slavs in Moravia by Cyril & Method (9th century AD)

Glagolitic script

Christianization of the Bulgarians by Vardas (9th century AD)

Further cultural influence of the Byzantium on the new christian nations

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PERIOD OF PROSPERITY (867 – 1025 AD)

Dynasty of the Macedonians Increase of the Bulgarian

threat during the reign of Simeon (dreamer of the Holy Roman Empire of the Bulgarian Nation) – Byzantine victory & annexation of the Bulgarian state to the Byzantine Empire

Attempt to confront the social inequality between the poor & the wealthy (“dynatoi”) Law of “Allilegion”

Enforcement of “themata”, in order to protect the eastern areas of the Empire

Christianization of the Russians (10th century AD)

Independency of the Byzantine Orthodox Church

Photius the Patriarch 1st Schism (9th century AD – “filioque”) // “Myriobiblos” or “Library”- “Lexeon Synagogi”

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PERIOD OF SUBVERSION (1025 – 1081 AD) Inefficient emperors New enemies:o Hungarians, Pechenegs

& Cumans in the Northern Balkans

o Seljuk Turks in Minor Asia (1071 AD, byzantine defeat in Manzikert )

o Normans in Italy

Final Schism (1054 AD, Michael Cerularius ) Beginning of hatred between Western & Eastern Christian Churches

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LAST “DAZZLING” (1081 – 1204 AD)

Dynasty of the Comnenians Temporary invasion of the

Normans in Epirus & West Macedonia

Regain of independence for the Bulgarians (1187 AD)

Byzantine defeat in the battle of Myriokephalon by the Seljuk Turks

Byzantium looses its former prestige (Byzantine Emperor “Rex Graecorum”)

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LAST “DAZZLING” (1081 – 1204 AD)

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LAST “DAZZLING” (1081 – 1204 AD)

1st Crusade (1096-1099 AD)

Agreement between the Byzantines & the Crusaders about the supplies of the army & the conquered areas

Re-conquest of West Minor Asia

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LAST “DAZZLING” (1081 – 1204 AD)

3rd Crusade (1189-1192 AD) Conquest of Cyprus by the British Crusaders ( Richard the Lionhearted)

4th Crusade (1201-1204 AD) (Boniface of Montferrat)

o Change of the first plan, in order to help Alexius 3rd Angel to regain the byzantine throne

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LAST “DAZZLING” (1081 – 1204 AD)

Conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders

The city is conquered for the 1st time in its history. The Crusaders plundered the city for 4 constant days

& nights Many works of art were ruined or transferred to the West.

Only two Byzantine- Greek states remain in the place of the former Byzantine Empire:

o Despotate of Epiruso Empire of Nicaea

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LAST “DAZZLING” (1081 – 1204 AD)