Constantinople
Center of the empireCenter of the empireExcellent HarborExcellent HarborFor Defense:For Defense:Guarded on 3 sidesGuarded on 3 sidesSystem of land and sea walls System of land and sea walls
Wealth and Riches of EmpireWealth and Riches of Empire
Commanded key trade routes Commanded key trade routes linking Europe and Asialinking Europe and Asia
Europe's busiest marketplaceEurope's busiest marketplaceHippodrome – arena for Hippodrome – arena for
chariot raceschariot races
Wanted to revive glory of Ancient Wanted to revive glory of Ancient RomeRome
Re-conquered territories in North Re-conquered territories in North Africa, Southern Spain, and ItalyAfrica, Southern Spain, and Italy
Built church of Hagia Sophia Built church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom)(Holy Wisdom)
Collected, revised, and organized Collected, revised, and organized all Ancient Rome's law into all Ancient Rome's law into Justinian Code
Justinian CodeJustinian Code
Unified empireUnified empireBecame basis of laws for Became basis of laws for
Church and Medieval monarchs Church and Medieval monarchs for centuriesfor centuries
Set out guidelines for Set out guidelines for international law todayinternational law today
Justinian's Absolute PowerJustinian's Absolute Power
AutocratAutocratTaxes ensured strong industry Taxes ensured strong industry
and militaryand militaryEmperor is Christ's co-ruler on Emperor is Christ's co-ruler on
EarthEarthControlled BOTH Church and Controlled BOTH Church and
Secular mattersSecular matters
TheodoraTheodora
Justinian's wife – was an actressJustinian's wife – was an actressStopped revolt & saved empire Stopped revolt & saved empire
from fallingfrom fallingNegotiated peace treaty with Negotiated peace treaty with
PersiansPersiansChampioned rights of womenChampioned rights of womenSet up hospitals for the poorSet up hospitals for the poor
Strengths of the EmpireStrengths of the Empire
Strong central governmentStrong central governmentTrade and industry flourishedTrade and industry flourishedHealthy money economyHealthy money economyPeasants formed backbone of Peasants formed backbone of
empire for working land, taxes empire for working land, taxes & military,& military,
Byzantine emperor Constantine IV sent his fleet to meet the Arabs near Syllaeum, and the Arab fleet was destroyed by Greek fire, a new Byzantine weapon that had been used for the first time only a few years before. As the Arabs retreated they were caught in a storm that sank nearly all of their ships. It was capable of discharging a stream of burning fluid, and was very effective both on sea and land, but it was used primarily at sea. It is rumored that the key to Greek Fire's effectiveness was that it would continue burning under almost any conditions, even under water.
Emperor controlled ChurchEmperor controlled ChurchAppointed a “Patriarch” or Appointed a “Patriarch” or
highest church officialhighest church officialRejected popes claim of Rejected popes claim of
authority over all Christiansauthority over all Christians
Differences between Differences between Eastern & Western Eastern & Western
Church
Byzantine ClergyByzantine Clergy
Can MarryCan MarryGreek not Latin language of Greek not Latin language of
ChurchChurchChief holy day is Easter, not Chief holy day is Easter, not
ChristmasChristmas
Split in Eastern & Western Church Split in Eastern & Western Church widenswidens
Eastern Christians prayed to Icons (holy Eastern Christians prayed to Icons (holy images) of Christ, Mary & Saintsimages) of Christ, Mary & Saints
700’s, Byzantine Emperor banned practice700’s, Byzantine Emperor banned practiceViolent battlesViolent battlesPope excommunicated emperorPope excommunicated emperorLater pope and emperor excommunicated Later pope and emperor excommunicated
each other leading to a schism (permanent each other leading to a schism (permanent split)split)
The beginning of the EndThe beginning of the End
Wars & problems with succession Wars & problems with succession Powerful local lords gained control Powerful local lords gained control
of large areasof large areasAs the empire faltered, enemies As the empire faltered, enemies
advancedadvancedSeljuk Turks began advancing Seljuk Turks began advancing
across Asia minoracross Asia minor
Crusades and ConstantinopleCrusades and Constantinople
1090’s, emperor called for 1090’s, emperor called for western help to fight Seljuk Turks western help to fight Seljuk Turks – first crusade– first crusade
Fourth crusade: knights Fourth crusade: knights convinced by Venetian merchants convinced by Venetian merchants to attack Constantinople – 1204to attack Constantinople – 1204
Looted & plunderedLooted & plundered
Empire never recoversEmpire never recovers
Byzantine emperor eventually Byzantine emperor eventually recovered the throne but….recovered the throne but….
Venetian merchants gained Venetian merchants gained control over Byzantine trade control over Byzantine trade draining the wealthdraining the wealth
Ottoman Turks over run Asia Ottoman Turks over run Asia minorminor
End of an EmpireEnd of an Empire
1453, Constantinople under siege 1453, Constantinople under siege for two months by Ottoman Turksfor two months by Ottoman Turks
Last emperor died fightingLast emperor died fightingOttoman ruler Muhammad II Ottoman ruler Muhammad II
renamed the city Istanbulrenamed the city IstanbulBecame the Great center of Became the Great center of
Muslim cultureMuslim culture
Byzantine LegacyByzantine Legacy
Blended Christian beliefs with Blended Christian beliefs with Greek science, philosophy, arts Greek science, philosophy, arts and literatureand literature
Extended roman achievements in Extended roman achievements in engineering and lawengineering and law
Influence spread through EuropeInfluence spread through Europe
Byzantine legacyByzantine legacy
Ottoman conquerors adapted Ottoman conquerors adapted features of Byzantine features of Byzantine Government, social life, and Government, social life, and ArchitectureArchitecture
Architecture = blended Greek, Architecture = blended Greek, Roman, Persian and other stylesRoman, Persian and other styles
World of LearningWorld of Learning
Byzantine scholars preserved Byzantine scholars preserved classic works of ancient Greece classic works of ancient Greece
Produced own historiesProduced own historiesWhen empire collapsed, Greek When empire collapsed, Greek
scholars left taking knowledge, scholars left taking knowledge, culture, and scripts to the west culture, and scripts to the west contributing to the renaissancecontributing to the renaissance