The Byzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire

Life in Europe without RomeLife in Europe without Rome

BackgroundBackground

In the year 330 AD as the Roman In the year 330 AD as the Roman Empire was collapsing, the Emperor Empire was collapsing, the Emperor Constantine rebuilt the city of Constantine rebuilt the city of Byzantine and renamed it Byzantine and renamed it ConstantinopleConstantinople

Located on the Bosporus straits Located on the Bosporus straits Constantinople became an important Constantinople became an important trade link between Europe and Asiatrade link between Europe and Asia

Background Cont.Background Cont.

While the rest of Western Europe While the rest of Western Europe entered the Dark Ages the Byzantine entered the Dark Ages the Byzantine Empire became strong and prosperousEmpire became strong and prosperous

Almost all of the goods that passed from Almost all of the goods that passed from Asia to Europe went through the Empire Asia to Europe went through the Empire making the Empire wealthy and powerfulmaking the Empire wealthy and powerful

The Byzantine became a haven for The Byzantine became a haven for knowledge and the arts of ancient Rome knowledge and the arts of ancient Rome

The Emperor JustinianThe Emperor Justinian

The Byzantine reached their peak under the The Byzantine reached their peak under the rule of the Emperor Justinian between 527 – rule of the Emperor Justinian between 527 – 565565

Justinian like all Byzantine Emperors was an Justinian like all Byzantine Emperors was an Autocratic ruler with complete authority over Autocratic ruler with complete authority over everything in his kingdom, even the Churcheverything in his kingdom, even the Church

The Byzantine Emperors were seen much as The Byzantine Emperors were seen much as the Pope was seen in the west but not the Pope was seen in the west but not complete authority over both the church and complete authority over both the church and statestate

Justinian Cont.Justinian Cont.

Justinian conquered lands uniting much of Justinian conquered lands uniting much of the old Roman Empirethe old Roman Empire

He also creates the Hagia Sophia which He also creates the Hagia Sophia which was a massive church dedicated to Godwas a massive church dedicated to God

More importantly was the Corpus Juris More importantly was the Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law) this was a Civilis (Body of Civil Law) this was a collection of laws dating back to the collection of laws dating back to the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

These laws became known as Justinian’s These laws became known as Justinian’s CodeCode

The Great SchismThe Great Schism

The idea that the Byzantine Emperor The idea that the Byzantine Emperor was the leader of the Christian Church was the leader of the Christian Church would eventually cause problems with would eventually cause problems with the Pope and the Western Churchthe Pope and the Western Church

The idea that there could only be one The idea that there could only be one leader of the Christian Church would leader of the Christian Church would lead to a split between the lead to a split between the

East and WestEast and West

The Empress TheodoraThe Empress Theodora

Not only was Justinian a strong leader Not only was Justinian a strong leader but his wife also was very powerfulbut his wife also was very powerful

Theodora influenced Justinian to pass Theodora influenced Justinian to pass laws which protected and promoted laws which protected and promoted women’s rightswomen’s rights

These rights included the ability to These rights included the ability to own property and get divorcesown property and get divorces

Theodora was the 1Theodora was the 1stst women’s women’s rights activistrights activist

The Fall of ConstantinopleThe Fall of Constantinople In the 1090s the Byzantine asked the West to In the 1090s the Byzantine asked the West to

help fight the Muslimshelp fight the Muslims 2 Crusades would pass through Constantinople 2 Crusades would pass through Constantinople

without many problems – although the Byzantine without many problems – although the Byzantine and the Crusaders viewed each other as and the Crusaders viewed each other as barbarians and heathensbarbarians and heathens

On the 4On the 4thth Crusade, in 1204, the Crusaders Crusade, in 1204, the Crusaders attacked and captured the city of attacked and captured the city of ConstantinopleConstantinople

Fall Cont.Fall Cont. After looting the city and sending most of the After looting the city and sending most of the

treasure back to the west the crusaders would treasure back to the west the crusaders would rule Constantinople for the next 50 yearsrule Constantinople for the next 50 years

Even though the Byzantine regained control they Even though the Byzantine regained control they never recovered from the attacknever recovered from the attack

1260 – 1453 the ottoman Armies slowly chipped 1260 – 1453 the ottoman Armies slowly chipped away at what was left of the Byzantineaway at what was left of the Byzantine

In 1453 after a 2 month siege Constantinople fell. In 1453 after a 2 month siege Constantinople fell. The last Emperor died defending the walls of the The last Emperor died defending the walls of the citycity

The Ottomans renamed the city Istanbul and The Ottomans renamed the city Istanbul and converted the Hagia Sophia to an Islamic Mosqueconverted the Hagia Sophia to an Islamic Mosque

The Rise of KievThe Rise of Kiev In 998 Prince Vladimir of Kiev converted his In 998 Prince Vladimir of Kiev converted his

country to Greek Orthodox Christianitycountry to Greek Orthodox Christianity Through time the Greek Orthodox Church evolved Through time the Greek Orthodox Church evolved

into what is know today as the Russian Orthodox into what is know today as the Russian Orthodox ChurchChurch

These close ties between Russia and the These close ties between Russia and the Byzantine allowed for trading and economic Byzantine allowed for trading and economic growthgrowth

As the Byzantine decline its trading with Russia As the Byzantine decline its trading with Russia also declinesalso declines

Then in the early 1200s the Mongols invaded Then in the early 1200s the Mongols invaded RussiaRussia

The Rise of MoscowThe Rise of Moscow

When the Russian Orthodox Church moved When the Russian Orthodox Church moved to Moscow it made Moscow Russia’s new to Moscow it made Moscow Russia’s new religious centerreligious center

In 1380 the Princes organized an army and In 1380 the Princes organized an army and defeated the Mongols at the Battle of defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Kulkivo and Moscow became the political Kulkivo and Moscow became the political center of Russiacenter of Russia

With the Mongols defeated a power With the Mongols defeated a power vacuum was created in Russia in 1462 vacuum was created in Russia in 1462 Ivan the Great would step up to fill Ivan the Great would step up to fill

Ivan The GreatIvan The Great

Ivan the Great established himself as Ivan the Great established himself as an absolute ruler and took the title of an absolute ruler and took the title of Czar (Czar is Russian for Caesar)Czar (Czar is Russian for Caesar)

Under Ivan the Great Russia was Under Ivan the Great Russia was centralized and lost lands were centralized and lost lands were regainedregained

His throne will be passed to his His throne will be passed to his grandson Ivan the Terriblegrandson Ivan the Terrible

Ivan The TerribleIvan The Terrible Ivan the Terrible ruled Russia with an iron fist. He Ivan the Terrible ruled Russia with an iron fist. He

under cut the power of the Russian Nobles and under cut the power of the Russian Nobles and passed laws tying serfs to the landpassed laws tying serfs to the land

He was crazy killing anyone who disagreed with He was crazy killing anyone who disagreed with him – including his sonhim – including his son

From 1560 – 1584 Russia lived in terrorFrom 1560 – 1584 Russia lived in terror With his death in 1584 Russia entered what is With his death in 1584 Russia entered what is

called “The Time of Troubles” during which Russian called “The Time of Troubles” during which Russian Nobles fought over who would inherit the thrownNobles fought over who would inherit the thrown

Finally in 1613 an assembly of Clergy and Nobles Finally in 1613 an assembly of Clergy and Nobles gathered and chose a new Czar Michael Romanovgathered and chose a new Czar Michael Romanov

The Romanov family would rule until 1914The Romanov family would rule until 1914

Vlad Tepes DraculaVlad Tepes Dracula

Romania Prince who fought for the Romania Prince who fought for the freedom of his people over Ottoman freedom of his people over Ottoman expansionexpansion

Used harsh punishments to maintain Used harsh punishments to maintain peace in his lands – loved by his peace in his lands – loved by his people and feared by his enemiespeople and feared by his enemies

How does the historical person How does the historical person become the basis for dracula?become the basis for dracula?