The Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWa8vOjmiMs

What exactly was the Byzantine Empire?- The continuation of the Roman Empire in the eastern sides of Europe, and mainly in the eastern

areas of the Mediterranean- Majority of the population - Greek-speaking- Christian in nature

- Main center of Empire was Byzantium (later renamed to Constantinople)- This town was important at the time for the growth and independence of the empire

- The Byzantine Empire had the ability to survive the fragmentation and fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th Century AD for an additional 1000 years, until the fall of the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

- Constantinople (now in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey) was of great importance for the Byzantine Empire in terms of culture, international status, architecture, and religion.

- It had been named after Roman emperor, Constantine the Great in 330 CE, and refounded the city as Byzantium.

- The largest and richest urban center in the Eastern Mediterranean, from its strategic position of commanding trade routes between the Black and Aegean Seas.

- Resulting in becoming the largest and richest in all of Europe; dominated economic life in this area.

- From Constantine’s influence, he gave the foundation of the religion to the Bishop of Constantinople.

- Contributed to cultural and theological differences between Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

- Architecture in the Byzantine Empire displayed the complexity, in terms of geometric design and shape of many famous buildings we see today.

- Dramatically influencing Medieval architecture in Roman times

Constantinople

Justinian I (483-565 CE)- Justinian was considered as one of the most important and

significant late Roman leaders of the Byzantine Empire from his reign from 527-565 CE.

- During his reign, Justinian was able to recover most of the land from the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and he is recognized by the ambitious renovatio imperii (Restoration of the Empire).

- Justinian is sometimes referred to as “The Last Roman” in history

- Justinian has also brought on a well-known legacy for himself in Roman history.

- Military campaign to retake Africa from the Vandals (533-534 CE)

- Ordered the rebuilding of the Hagia Sofia in 532 CE, as well as construction of many churches, bridges. reservoirs, monasteries, etc.

- Code of Justinian - summarizes the Roman law system into one large text in 529 CE (republished in 534 CE)

Religion - The Byzantine Empire became a Christian

state completely after the 4th century.- In the Byzantine Empire, the Church was led

by five patriarchs.- Alexandria- Jerusalem- Constantinople- Antioch- Rome

- 1054 CE: The East-West Schism - break of communion between Eastern Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox people

Fall and Decline of the Byzantine Empire- Main reason of the fall: Conquest by the

Ottoman Turks in 1453

- 1454: The Byzantine Empire finally ends

its reign and the Ottoman Empire rises

- Major Cause: The Crusades - Christian wars supposedly against the Muslims and Christian people, such as the Byzantines