Byzantine Empire

JUSTINIANClaim to fame…

1. Hagia Sophia2. Justinian’s Code3. Reclaim the land of the Roman

Empire - General Belasarius…

Hagia SophiaFor a 1,000 years it was the largest cathedral. Now the 4th.

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

• Church of Holy Wisdom• Giant cathedral- largest in world for a 1,000

years… Now the 4th largest.• Mosiacs and Murals inside

• Domes in the Hagia Sophia and across Constantinople.

Tour of Constantinople/Instanbul

Mosiac of Justinian

Theodora

?

• “Rather let the crime of the guilty go unpunished than condemn the innocent.”

Justinian Code

Four parts to his code…1. DIGEST – decisions of the great Roman

jurists. ( court decisions)2. INSTITUTES- Textbook for law students3. NOVELS- edicts ( orders) given by Justinian4. CODEX- Statutes and principles. ( written

laws)

BelasariusHelped put down the Nika Revolt

Reclaimed lost Roman Empire land

Belasarius

• Helped crush the Nika Revolts

• Won back much of Italy and North Africa

RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT

• ABSOLUTISM- The idea that the emperor had complete power over everything in Constantinople- government and religion.

• Head of the Church and Government• Christianity the official religion. • Constantine converted to Christianity when he

moved the capital to Byzantium.

CHRISTIANITY

• EUROPE AND THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE UNITED IN ONE FAITH…CHRISTIANITY

• EVERYONE WAS SUPPOSE TOBE CHRISTIAN…• THEY FOUGHT OVER ISSUES…• ICONS – RELIGIOUS IMAGES, statues, and

artwork.( SHOULD RELIGIOUS IMAGES BE USED IN WORSHIP?)

• FOUGHT FOR 100 YEARS

ICONSICONS OK IN THE WEST ( ROME) NOT IN THE EAST.

• THOUGHT THAT IT WAS IDOL WORSHIP…FORBIDDEN BY GOD.

• 730 EMPEROR LEO BANNED USE OF ICONS • PEOPLE IN ROMAN CHURCH DID NOT LIKE THIS…

SOME PEOPLE COULD NOT READ…ICONS MADE IT EASY TO WORSHIP…

• (PARTS OF ITALY UNDER BYZANTINE RULE) • POPE GREGORY III ( ROME) EXCOMMUNITCATE

LEO….LEO AND SUPPORTERS NO LONGER MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH!

EAST AND WEST VERY DIFFERENT

WEST

• FRANKISH/ GERMANIC CULTURE• SPOKE LATIN• RURAL/ AGRICULTURE• HEAD OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IS

THE POPE.All the power.He chose the Emperor.

EAST

• EAST• Spoke Greek• MANY CITIES …TRADE AND WEALTH• HEAD OF THE CHURCH CHOSEN BY THE

EMPEROR IS CALLED THE PATRIARCH

Byzantine Empress Irene V. Charlemagne

Rome Byzantine Empress Irene

Patriarch v. Pope

• Patriarch…would not recognize the Pope as supreme authority.

• Pope Leo would not recognize Empress Irene as leader.

Who is in charge?

• Pope Leo crowns Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor.

• Byzantines still felt Empress Irene in charge.

THIS LEADS TO THE SPLIT WITHIN THE CHURCH. IT IS KNOWN AS THE GREAT SCHISM.

1054GREAT SCHISM- SPLIT BETWEEN EAST AND WEST CHURCH

• PATRIARCH CERULARIUS CLOSED ALL CHURCHES THAT WORSHIPED WESTERN RITES.

• POPE LEO WENT TO HAGIA SOPHIA AND EXCOMMUICATED HIM…

• CERULARIUS EXCOMMUNICATED THE POPE…• REALLY ONLY SYMBOLIC….

CHRISTIANITY SPLIT INTO TWO BRANCHES

• EAST BECOMES THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH. ( ORTHODOX MEANS “RIGHT BELIEF”) Headed by the Patriarch.

• WEST BECOMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH HEADED BY THE POPE.