INTRODUCTION After the fall of Rome, the Eastern Roman
Empire continued as the Byzantine Empire with Constantinople as its center.
It lasted for almost 1,000 years. Constantinople was located along land
routes that connected Europe and Asia and on the Bosporus, a waterway connecting the Black and Mediterranean Seas
It was surrounded on three sides by water and had thick city walls, making it almost invulnerable to attack
BYZANTINE GOVERNMENT
The Byzantines saw themselves as simply continuing the Roman Empire
Byzantine emperors were all-powerful and continued an imperial system over a diverse population
The official language of government was Latin, but most people spoke Greek (eventually Latin was replaced by Greek in the government)
Constantinople
Rome
Carthage
Arabia
PersianEmpire
Kingdom ofThe Franks
Kingdom ofThe Visigoths
AFRICA
BYZANTINE CULTURE
Religion – The Eastern Orthodox Church Separate from the Catholic Church Did not recognize the Pope as the head of
their church Had their own Patriarch (leader) Some other issues were the use of relics
vs. icons, view on the trinity and the shape of the cross displayed in churches
CULTURE CONTINUED… Developed a vibrant
culture Built magnificent churches
like the Hagia Sophia with its giant dome and tall spires
Taught ancient Greek texts Artists used precious
materials (gold, silver, ivory) to display classical images
Especially known for their colorful icons and mosaics
JUSTINIAN (527-565) Reconquered much of the old
Roman Empire Greatest achievement was the Code
of Justinian Collected all of the existing Roman
laws and organized them into a single code
Listed all the laws and opinions on each subject
Had special laws relating to religion and required all persons in the empire to belong to the Eastern Orthodox Faith
Added new laws that pertained to women’s rights
ACTIVITY
Complete the chart about the reasons for the survival of the Byzantine Empire.
Homework: Read the document from the Code of Justinian, then anwer the questions that follow.
DECLINE OF BYZANTIUM
Continuously battled the Slavs and Avars to the north, Persians to the east and spread of Islam in the south.
In the 600s, Muslims took most of the Middle East In the 1100s, The Seljuk Turks took most of Asia
Minor European crusaders attacked Constantinople in
1204 and Italian cities competed for Byzantine trade
By the 1440s, the empire was reduced to a small area around Constantinople which was finally conquered by the Ottomans in 1453
BYZANTINE INFLUENCE IN RUSSIA
Emerged in the 9th century when Vikings organized Slavs into a kingdom centered in Kiev (other Russian cities developed in the north – Moscow & Novgorod)
Early Russian cities traded with the Byzantines
Byzantine influence on Russian culture Orthodox Christianity (converted Slavs and
Bulgars) Cyrillic alphabet Byzantine crafts and other products
What legal principle do all three sections share? ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________ Why was the Code of Justinian such an important legal advance?
_____________________ ____________________________________________________________________________
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THE CODE OF JUSTINIAN: ON BRINGING AN ACTION TO COURT
• You must [determine] the proof necessary to establish the fact that you are entitled to the money which you [claim] you have deposited. Emperor Antonius, 156 A.D.
• He before whom proceedings are brought shall order public documents, both civil and criminal, to be produced, for the purpose of being examined, in order to [judge] the truth. Emperor Severus, 193 A.D.
• Persons who wish to bring an accusation must have evidence, for the law does not permit a party to inspect the documents of the other side. Therefore, if thee plaintiff does not prove his allegations, the defendant shall be discharged, even if he furnishes no evidence. Emperor Antoninus, 223 A.D.