Eras of Western Civilization
Antiquity Ends with the fall of the western half of the
Roman Empire, 476 AD
Medieval Period Ends with the Renaissance and the Age of
Discovery, 1500s
Modern Era Ends with the Enlightenment and continues to
present
The Byzantine Empire330 - 1453
The Church
The early centuries of Christianity were times of great debate among Christian theologians
Arguments over what may seem trivial were in fact very important because they would shape the way people think about and practice Christianity in the present day
Important Latin Theologians
Jerome(340-420) translated the Old and New Testaments into Latin, which became the accepted version of the Bible
Ambrose (340-397) urged humility and the separation of church and state
Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo, wrote The City of God after a barbarian attack on Rome. Said Christians should be more concerned about the Kingdom of God than their worldly cities
The Fall of Rome, the Rise of Byzantium
Byzantine Empire = the “Eastern” Roman EmpireIt’s history spans another 1,000 years after the western half of the Roman Empire collapses in 476. Recall:285 Emperor Diocletian divides the Roman
Empire into eastern and western halves33o Emperor Constantine transfers the capitol
from Rome to Byzantium, renames the city Constantinople (“City of Constantine”)
392 Emperor Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion of the empire
The Byzantine Empire, 330 - 1453
Byzantine Government Women allowed to rule Government operated largely by eunuchs
In the Church, huge contrasts developed between the eastern and the western empires Roman Empire in the west spoke Latin Byzantine Empire in the east spoke Greek Debate over the power of the Pope and icons
Legacy of the Byzantine Empire
Because of the geographic location of Constantinople (on water and between two continents), trade fueled the economy. Goods from China and India poured into Constantinople
along the Silk Road before making their way to EuropeArts and learning flourished in the Byzantine
Empire because of all of the unique cultures that mixed through trade. Their most famous style of art was the stained glass mosaic which often pictured religious images of Jesus, Mary, and martyrs.
The Church set up schools to teach medicine, law, philosophy, geometry, music
Justinian, 482 - 565
Justinian and wife Theodora had risen to power from poor families
Byzantine Empire constantly under attack by Islamic forces from all directions Huge Christian/Muslim rivalry
Christian “Defenders of the Faith”
Islamic forces try several times to take Constantinople
Justinian fought several expensive campaigns in the west to regain the former Roman Empire, unsuccessful After his death, barbarians take
much of the eastern border
Justinian’s Legacy
“The Last Roman” Considered a saint in the modern orthodox church
Corpus Juris Civilis— 60 vols of Roman law organized into categories and updated, translated into Greek
Hagia Sophia—Built by Emperor Justinian who wanted a church that would outdo the Temple of Solomon. It’s design is a dome over a square base. Stained glass Debate over icons
Hagia Sophia
Empire’s Greatest Extent under Justinian
Heraclius, 575 – 641
Attempted to regain territory lost following Justinian’s death, partly successful
Made the imperial government more efficient Greek becomes the official language of the empire Established the “theme system”—empire divided into
districts and ruled locally Permitted land ownership by civilians which gave
them an incentive to fight off barbariansAbolished the death penalty, except for
treason Replaced with mutilation
Roman Christians(Western Roman
Empire)
Byzantine Christians(Eastern Roman Empire)
Political differences
Pope (Bishop of Rome) had absolute power
Rejected the Pope’s power, ruled by the Patriarch of Constantinople who was appointed by the Byzantine emperor
Celibacy Became a crucial doctrine to prevent hereditary power
East more urban and cosmopolitan—difficult to enforce. Priests allowed to marry
Icono-graphy
Used relics, prayed to saints, the Virgin Mary, or Christ (these things believed to be more accessible) so that prayers might be passed on to God
Iconoclasts (Greek for image-breakers), interpretation of Ten Commandments which forbids making or worshipping graven images
Priestly appear-ance
Priests and clergy began shaving their heads and faces
Clergy bearded
Distinct names
Called the “Roman Catholic” Church
Called the “Greek Orthodox” Church
The East-West Schism, 1054
The Catholic Church splits into two factions in 1054 In the west: Roman Catholic Church In the east: Greek Orthodox Church
Riot in Constantinople when Italian merchants build a Catholic church outside the city Byzantines burn the church to the ground, all Latin
churches ordered closed by the Patriarch The Pope and Patriarch of Constantinople quarrel, each
excommunicates the other, passes on to each of their successors
Official truce between the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches under Pope Paul VI in 1965
Saints Cyril and Methodius, 9th Cent
“Apostles to the Slavs”Brothers born in
Thessalonica, Macedon
Converted pagan Slavic tribes to the Greek Orthodox Church
Cyrillic alphabet created to teach pagans literacy
Muslim Invasions
By the 7th century, Muslim invaders (Turks) posed a serious threat to the Byzantine Empire 717 Byzantines held of an attack on the capitol
with use of Greek fire, a flammable substance similar to napalm that would ignite on water, burned Turkish ships
Byzantine Empire officially falls in 1453 when 70k Ottoman Turks surround the city of Constantinople Successful new weapon, cannon Rename the city Istanbul, becomes the capital of
the new Ottoman Empire