Byzantine Empire -- 7th Grade SS

The Byzantine Empire!

So, here’s how it went…• Constantine moved the Roman capital to

Byzantiumwhich became known as Constantinople which is Istanbul today.

• It lasted from about 500 to 1453 C.E., about 1,000 years longer than Rome, which fell in about 500 C.E.

• E and W were connected for awhile by a shared faith Christianity (Catholic), but,

• The E developed its own way Eastern Orthodox Church after the Roman pope excommunicated the eastern church officials SCHISM! Oh no!

.

Constantinople was:

• Surrounded on 3 sides by water!

• At a vital trade route crossroads.

• Home to 1 million people.

• Had a sewer system and social services.

• However, many lived in poverty.

Traders Came from All Over

• Silks from China

• Spices from Africa and Asia

• Incense from Japan

• Pottery

• Linens

• And other daily goods.

With you neighbor, answer these:

• How long after the Roman Empire fell did the Byzantine last?

• Byzantium was surrounded on 3 sides by water. Was this a military, geographic, economic or political benefit?

• Why/how was Byzantium such an important trading hub?

Let’s go to the races!

• Blues vs. Greens at the Hippodrome!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTXzIPgR_zw&list=PL6bPCJgoAYZlnf8bKYhrX7rgSHKAgMboG&index=19

Justinian I & Theodora

• One of the greatest Byzantine emperors.

• Almost deposed in a revolt during the chariot races in 532 c.e.

• Killed 30,000 citizens and destroyed the city.

• But, he rebuilt it by $$$ into public works.

Hagia Sophia

Justinian’s Code

• Systematic body of law.

• Revised outdated laws.

• Extended women’s property rights.

• Became basis for many legal codes in the western world.

Hagia Sophia

• Means “holy wisdom”

• Its dome represents heaven Dome of Heaven

With you neighbor, answer these:

• Who gave the poor support?

• After the riots of 532, who rebuilt the city?

• What did the dome of the Hagia Sophia represent?

• What was the key idea of Justinian’s Code?

Eastern Orthodox Church

• Separated from the Roman Catholic Church.

• Church & gov’t linked.• Emperor=living

representative of God on earth.

• The patriarch was the head of the church, but the emperor was just above him in power.

• Monasteries and convents took care of the poor and sick.

Why the Church split

• EInfluenced by Greek culture.

• WInfluenced by Frankish & Germanic.

• Popes became very powerfulPatriarchs resisted this.

• Icons. • IconocasmEmperor Leo III

banned use of religious images.

• This ban angered the Pope and he excommunicated Leo III.

Finally,

• 1054 c.e.

• The patriarch Celariusclosed all churches that worshipped with western rites.

• Pope Leo IX laid down a bullproclamation.

• “YOU ARE EXCOMMUNICATED”

• This cemented the schism.

With you neighbor, answer these:

• Why establish the policy of iconoclasm?

• What was the Byzantine view of church and state?

• What was the schism that occurred?