<p>Notes on the Byzantine Empire</p><p>Origins of the Empire:</p><p>MI: Constantinople begins to develop a civilization after the start of the Byzantine Empire in the 4 th century C.E.</p><p> Byzantine Empire began in the 4th century C.E, when Roman develops the eastern capital (Constantinople). </p><p> Emperor Constantine- constructed elegant buildings:</p><p> o Christian churches were built on foundations of previous Byzantium.</p><p> Eastern emperors ruled the city before western empire has fallen in the Germanic invaders.</p><p> Eastern Mediterranean had a solid tax base in peasant agriculture.</p><p> Constantinople has control of:</p><p> o Balkan peninsula</p><p> o Northern Middle East</p><p> o Mediterranean Coast</p><p> o North Africa</p><p> Languages in Eastern empire:</p><p> o Latin – court language</p><p> Lower rank/ uncivilized communications </p><p> o Greek – common tongue/ official language after emperor Justinian (6th century) </p><p> 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.</p><p> Expanding bureaucracy.</p><p> Face foreign enemies- West faces the Germanic tribes.</p><p>Justinian’s Achievements: </p><p>MI: Justinian rebuilds and expands the Byzantine Empire, while invaders are trying to take over. </p><p> Eastern emperors- rely on local military base and generalship by upper-class Greeks, able to defend against Sassanian Empire in Persia and Germanic invaders. </p><p> 533 C.E., Justinian tries to reconquer western territory to restore an empire similar to Rome.</p><p> Justinian</p><p> o Describe by Procopius</p><p> o Influenced by his wife, Theodora (eager for power) – pushing the plan of expansion.</p><p> Justinian ravage riots against high taxes/ systematizing Roman legal code.</p><p> He extended Roman architecture/achievement of engineering </p><p> o Builders created new structures</p><p> o Church, Hagia Sophia, wonders of the Christian world</p><p> o Able to build support for the dome size  Unified law </p><p> o Reduced confusion</p><p> o United/organized empire</p><p> o State’s bureaucracy</p><p> o Helped spread Roman legal principles in parts of Europe</p><p> Belisarius – brilliant general helps recapture the old Roman Empire.</p><p> Justinian’s forces created a temporary capital, Ravenna.</p><p> o Artistic center</p><p> o Has the most beautiful Christian mosaics</p><p> Italian/ North African unable to defend the Germanic pressure.</p><p> Persian attacks the northern Middle East, Slavic groups move into Balkans.</p><p> Persian forces were move back, but Middle Eastern territory were some gone.</p><p> Wars- new tax pressures on government </p><p> Justinian died in 565 C.E. </p>