Notes on the Byzantine Empire

Origins of the Empire:

MI: Constantinople begins to develop a civilization after the start of the Byzantine Empire in the 4 th century C.E.

 Byzantine Empire began in the 4th century C.E, when Roman develops the eastern capital (Constantinople).

 Emperor Constantine- constructed elegant buildings:

o Christian churches were built on foundations of previous Byzantium.

 Eastern emperors ruled the city before western empire has fallen in the Germanic invaders.

 Eastern Mediterranean had a solid tax base in peasant agriculture.

 Constantinople has control of:

o Balkan peninsula

o Northern Middle East

o Mediterranean Coast

o North Africa

 Languages in Eastern empire:

o Latin – court language

 Lower rank/ uncivilized communications

o Greek – common tongue/ official language after emperor Justinian (6th century)

 Scholars- read freely in ancient Athenian philosophical, literary classics, Hellenistic writings, and scientific treaties.  New administration/ Hellenized Egyptians and Syrians trade from the influence of Roman administration.

 Expanding bureaucracy.

 Face foreign enemies- West faces the Germanic tribes.

Justinian’s Achievements:

MI: Justinian rebuilds and expands the Byzantine Empire, while invaders are trying to take over.

 Eastern emperors- rely on local military base and generalship by upper-class Greeks, able to defend against Sassanian Empire in Persia and Germanic invaders.

 533 C.E., Justinian tries to reconquer western territory to restore an empire similar to Rome.

 Justinian

o Describe by Procopius

o Influenced by his wife, Theodora (eager for power) – pushing the plan of expansion.

 Justinian ravage riots against high taxes/ systematizing Roman legal code.

 He extended Roman architecture/achievement of engineering

o Builders created new structures

o Church, Hagia Sophia, wonders of the Christian world

o Able to build support for the dome size  Unified law

o Reduced confusion

o United/organized empire

o State’s bureaucracy

o Helped spread Roman legal principles in parts of Europe

 Belisarius – brilliant general helps recapture the old Roman Empire.

 Justinian’s forces created a temporary capital, Ravenna.

o Artistic center

o Has the most beautiful Christian mosaics

 Italian/ North African unable to defend the Germanic pressure.

 Persian attacks the northern Middle East, Slavic groups move into Balkans.

 Persian forces were move back, but Middle Eastern territory were some gone.

 Wars- new tax pressures on government

 Justinian died in 565 C.E.