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3. The Age of Justinian:
HIST 302 Spring 2012
Tremissis of Zeno
Zeno’s Henoticon, “Act of Union” (482)
Mediate opposing views of the “nature of Christ” • Chalcedonian • Miaphysite
Emperor Justinian (482-565)
Latin-speaking village in Balkans
500 Uncle Justin arrives in Constantinople as a barefoot, illiterate peasant. • adopted Justinian and brought him to Constantinople
518 Emperor Anastasius dies • Justin made Emperor
521 Justinian made Patrician • Marries Theodora
527 Co-emperor, then Emperor
Sources: Procopius
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“Age of Justinian”
“The 4 Rs” • Redacts and compiles Roman legal code • Rebuilds the Capital – Hagia Sophia • Reconquers the Western Mediterranean – San Vitale • Requires Religious Uniformity – Chalcedon His reign marks end of the Antiquity, beginning of Medieval Byzantium
Corpus iuris civilis
• Codex Justinianus – Easter 529 – Made old laws resonate new Christian realities • Digest – 2000 jurists, imperial edicts – Hadrian • Institutes – Key court case for learning law
Law creation shifts from jurists Page from Codex Justinianus and senators to the Emperor Nuremberg, Germany (1488)
(525-531) Wars with Sasanian Dynasty
531 Belisarius repels Persians
Death of Kavadh
532-540 “Eternal Peace” Justinian pulls all troops out of the East
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Nika Revolt (532)
http://www.youtube.com/user/souliot#p/a/u/ 0/AjrnvDn2tcA nika means victory in Greek Political-spectator parties, Blues and Greens, revolt against Justinian
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http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=usp6GLrzdws
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Form of Hagia Sophia
“Domed basilica”
Linear plan— traditional basilica
Effect: light-filled open space
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535 534 554 550
533
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Belisarius triumphs in Constantinople
And when he came before the emperor's seat, they stripped off the purple garment, and compelled him to fall prone on the ground and do obeisance to the Emperor Justinian. This also Belisarius did, as being a suppliant of the emperor along with him. • Procopius, Wars 4.9
Barberini Ivory on display at the Louvre.
535 534 554 550
533
Byzantine Capital of Italy • San Vitale, Ravenna
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Byzantine Mosaics • „ Roman stones set in floor • Byzantine was glass set in walls and ceilings • „ heavy use of gold tesserae • „ Spiritualized (impressionistic) representation – note eyes, lack of dimensionality • „ Imperial figures portrayed with saintly iconography • Justinian and Theodora’s assimilation to Christ at S. Vitale – Christ Pantokrator—the ultimate emperor
Uniformity of Christian Doctrine
• Chalcedon (451) Justinian takes staunch Chalcedonian position 529 Academy in Athens closed 532-3 Public debates on the “nature of Christ” 543 Three Chapters Controversy 553 Council of Constantinople Fissure between Eastern Orthodoxy and Papacy
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“Innovation” Framed as “Restoration”
• Reformed Legal Code – Subtle change with Christian influence • Rebuilt Constantinople – New arch. Techniques (dome) • Reconquered Western Mediterranean • Required Doctrinal Uniformity
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