Byzantine Timeline • 285 AD– Diocletian divides the Roman Empire. • 312 AD – Constantine legalizes Christianity. • 527-565 AD– Justinian builds and codifies Roman laws. 850’s AD – Byzantine culture spreads to Russia. • 1054 AD – Christian church splits. The Byzantine Empire • 1204 AD – Crusaders pillage Constantinople. The Greek word for Constantinople was “Byzantium”, • 1453 AD – Constantinople thus this “New Rome” became the Byzantine Empire – falls to the Ottoman Empire. lasting for an additional 1,000 years in cultured prosperity, while Rome fell to Germanic invaders. The Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire The Eastern Portion of the Roman Empire •Under pressure from attacks by Germanic tribes and Huns, Diocletian divided the empire of Rome into an Eastern section and a Western section ruled from Rome in 285 AD. Statue of Emperor Diocletian. Diocletian Divides the Roman Empire Constantine Emperor Constantine •In 312 AD, Constantine legalized Christianity and moved the capital of the empire to Byzantium on the Bosporus which became Constantinople, or the “City of Constantine,” and “New Rome.” Statue of Emperor Constantine. Byzantium - Constantinople •At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Constantinople was a major center for trade. Silks and spices arrived from the East, furs from Russia, and grains, olives, and wines from the empire itself brought the empire great wealth. Rome vs. Byzantium Rome - the Western Empire •Spoke Latin •Territory included Italy, Gaul, Britain and Spain. •Trade was disrupted. •Not as wealthy as the East. Rome vs. Byzantium Byzantium - the Eastern Empire or “New Rome” •The Empire was oriented towards the Greek culture. Greek was the language spoken, written and taught. •Wealthy empire that benefited from trade routes that connected Europe, Asia and Africa. •Religion - Eastern or “Greek” Orthodox Church. Interior of Hagia Sophia Justinian Emperor Justinian •Justinian tried to re-conquer the Western Empire of Rome. He oversaw the building of Hagia Sophia. •He is best remembered for his code of laws called Justinian’s Code. Mosaic of Emperor Justinian. Justinian’s Code of Laws Justinian set up a panel of 10 legal experts, who brought together over 400 years worth of Roman laws and traditions into one single, uniform book of laws and commentaries known as Justinian's Code. Justinian's Code contained 4 separate works – •The Code - which contained 5,000 Roman laws the Byzantines still found relevant and useful. •The Digest - which quoted and summarized the opinions of Rome's greatest legal minds. It served as a useful guide for judges deciding a case. •The Institutes - a textbook that taught law students how to use the laws. •The Novella or New laws that were passed after 534 AD. The Code discussed the Law for Individuals and the Natural Laws that a person is born with and entitled to. This idea of the Natural Laws of Man will be picked up again by political philosophers such as John Locke and Thomas Jefferson, who will argue for the natural laws or unalienable laws a man is born with, "that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Justinian – Hagia Sophia •New roads, an imperial palace, fortresses, hippodrome (circus), universities, market places, aqueducts, and monasteries were built under Justinian’s reign. His best known achievement was Hagia Sophia or the “Holy Wisdom of Christ” church. Justinian – Hagia Sophia • Hagia Sophia or the “Holy Wisdom of Christ” church was the largest church in the East. •Today, it is an imperial mosque for Muslims who took the city in 1453. Byzantine Art – Mosaics and Icons Mosaic – on the left – of Justinian and his court and an Icon of Christ on the right. Mosaics and Icons were two of the more popular styles of Byzantine art. Russia Formation of Medieval Russia •In the 800’s Russian culture emerged as a blend of Slavic, and Rus (Varangian – Viking) cultures. They traded with Constantinople, bringing furs, timber, wax and honey. Slavic subjects were sold as slaves in Constantinople as well. A Viking Rus Formation of Russia Russia formed near 3 of her great rivers –the Volga, the Dnieper and the Don. Her first capital was in Novgorod then Kiev. Later, it was moved to Moscow. Rus vikings settled among the Slavs and built forts along the rivers for trade. Russia Formation of Medieval Russia •Eastern Orthodox missionaries spread their Christian faith to these Slavic tribes – creating the Cyrillic alphabet for their Russian language. •The spread of Eastern Orthodoxy brought Russia closer to Constantinople and the Byzantine culture and traditions. Cyrillic Alphabet Russia Formation of Medieval Russia •In 989 AD, Prince Vladimir of Kiev converted to Byzantine Christianity and made all of his subjects convert too. •Russia was now linked to Constantinople via trade and religious traditions. Prince Vladimir of Kiev baptizing the Russian people. The Roman Catholic Church Divides •In 1054, a schism, or split occurred in the Roman Catholic Church. •The 1.Roman Catholic Church remained the only Christian church in the West, while in the Byzantine Empire, the 2.Eastern or “Greek” Orthodox Church became the state sponsored church. The Roman Catholic Church Divides The Pope in Rome (Pope Leo IX -Roman Catholic Church), stated he was the supreme leader of the Church; while the Patriarch of Constantinople (Michele Cerulari) opposed this claim. Two Churches The Roman Catholic Church •Services were held in Latin. •Popes had both secular and spiritual power. During this era, they were as powerful as kings. •Priests were not allowed to marry, and divorce was not permitted. Pope Leo IX Two Churches The Eastern Orthodox Church •Services were held in Greek. •Patriarch was the church leader while the emperor was the political leader. •Priests were allowed to marry, and divorce was permitted. Patriarch of Constantinople The Roman Catholic Church Divides •Can you list differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church? The Byzantine Empire Contributions of the Byzantines •They kept the advanced learning, culture and traditions of the Greeks and Romans alive. •Justinian’s Code of Laws influenced many nations. •Eastern Orthodox church helped unify Slavic tribes, giving them a written language and the Cyrillic alphabet.. A Byzantine soldier and official. The Fall of the Byzantines The Fall of the Byzantine Empire •Constantinople was weakened by repeated attacks from the Seljuk Turks. •Christian crusaders pillaged Constantinople in 1204, and finally in 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks. Sultan Mehmet II who conquered Constantinople .