The Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire

After taking notes you will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:

Eastern Roman Empire

Orthodox Christianity

Byzantine Influence on Russia

The Byzantine Empire was formerly theEastern Roman Empire.

The Eastern Roman Empire

• The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D.

• However, the eastern portion of the empire survived. It began the Byzantine Empire.

• The Byzantine Empire survived for one thousand years after the fall of Rome.

Constantinople

• Capital of Byzantine Empire

• Located on Bosporus strait, between Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea

• Now known as Istanbul

Constantinople

Trade

• The Byzantine Empire was located between Europe and Asia.

• It was a natural location for trade goods from around the known world.

• The Byzantine Empire became extremely wealthy and powerful from trade.

Orthodox Christianity• The Byzantines developed their own form

of Christianity, Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

• Greek is the official language of the Orthodox Christian Church, while Latin was the language of the Roman Catholic Church

• Orthodox Christians do not recognize the Pope in Rome as their leader. Patriarchs were bishops of the church, recognized the Emperor as the leader.

In 1054 A.D., the Orthodox ChristianChurch officially split from the RomanCatholic Church in the Great Schism.

The Hagia Sophia was a Byzantine Church and an architectural marvel with

its huge dome tops and spires. (what modern countries could you find

these structures?)

Byzantine Influence on Russia

• The Byzantine Empire greatly influenced Russia.

• Byzantine missionaries established Orthodox Christian churches in Russia.

• Byzantine missionaries even created an alphabet, the Cyrillic alphabet, to write the Bible in Russian.

Do you see the Byzantine influencein this Russian Orthodox Church?

Justinian

• Byzantine Emperors held absolute power(also known as a what?).

• The Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, collected all Roman written laws.

• The Code of Justinian is a collection of Roman written law.

Empress Theodora

Empress Theodora was Justinian’s Wife

She was a strong willed and influential person in Justinian’s life (she wore the Pants in the family!)

Mosaics and Icons

• Mosaics – Creating images using small pieces of broken glass.

• Icons – Religious images used to aid in devotions.

• Some say worshiping icons was seen as idol worship. Iconoclasts were sent to many churches to destroy the icons.

Mosaics

Icons

Questions for Reflection:

• What became of the Eastern Roman Empire with the fall of Rome in 476 A.D.?

• Why was the Byzantine Empire able to prosper from trade?

• How did the Orthodox Christian Church differ from the Roman Catholic Church?

• Who was Justinian and what did he do?

• What was the Hagia Sophia?