The The CommonwealtCommonwealt

h of Byzantiumh of ByzantiumChapter 13Chapter 13

The Big PictureThe Big Picture Long distance trade continues to grow due to new Long distance trade continues to grow due to new

technology technology

Technological developments shape the world – Technological developments shape the world – compass, gunpowder, improved ship-building compass, gunpowder, improved ship-building

Movement of people alters world – nomads interact Movement of people alters world – nomads interact with settles peoplewith settles people

Religions evolve – Buddhism, Christianity, Islam Religions evolve – Buddhism, Christianity, Islam preach equality of believers, new paths for womenpreach equality of believers, new paths for women

Religions influence - unifying force and source of Religions influence - unifying force and source of conflictconflict

Political structures adapt and change – Centralized Political structures adapt and change – Centralized and decentralizedand decentralized

Learning GoalLearning Goal

Evaluate the significance of Evaluate the significance of the Byzantine Empire on the the Byzantine Empire on the civilization of Europe.civilization of Europe.

Guiding QuestionGuiding Question

How did the Byzantine How did the Byzantine political organization and political organization and culture and affect the culture and affect the development of eastern development of eastern Europe?Europe?

The Early Byzantine The Early Byzantine EmpireEmpire

Capital: ByzantiumCapital: Byzantium

Commercial, strategic value Commercial, strategic value of locationof location

Constantine names capital Constantine names capital after himself after himself (Constantinople), moves (Constantinople), moves capital there 340 CEcapital there 340 CE

1453 falls to Turks, renamed 1453 falls to Turks, renamed IstanbulIstanbul

The Later Roman Empire and The Later Roman Empire and ByzantiumByzantium

Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire inherits Roman inherits Roman Empire after fall of Empire after fall of Rome in 5Rome in 5thth c. CE c. CE

Expanded and Expanded and retractedretracted

Eastern territories Eastern territories remain major remain major power until 13power until 13thth c. c. CECE

The Later Roman The Later Roman EmpireEmpire

Roman infrastructure in placeRoman infrastructure in place Roads, institutional hierarchies, communications, Roads, institutional hierarchies, communications,

Challenges from strong Persian empire (Sassanid dynasty, 226-Challenges from strong Persian empire (Sassanid dynasty, 226-641 CE) and Invasions of Germanic peoples641 CE) and Invasions of Germanic peoples

The Early Byzantine The Early Byzantine StateState

Tradition of Tradition of statecraftstatecraft

Highly centralized Highly centralized rulerule

Power in hands of Power in hands of exalted emperorexalted emperor

ConstantineConstantine

CaesaropapismCaesaropapism Constantine – 1Constantine – 1stst

Christian emperorChristian emperor

Christian leader cannot Christian leader cannot claim divinity, rather claim divinity, rather divine authoritydivine authority

Involved in political Involved in political and religious ruleand religious rule

After 6After 6thth c. – emperors c. – emperors exalted absolute rulersexalted absolute rulers

The Byzantine CourtThe Byzantine Court

Etiquette reinforces authority Etiquette reinforces authority of Emperorof Emperor

Heavy, bejeweled crownHeavy, bejeweled crown Royal purpleRoyal purple ProstrationProstration Mechanical devices designed to Mechanical devices designed to

inspire aweinspire awe

High officials presented High officials presented themselves as slaves to the themselves as slaves to the emperoremperor

JustinianJustinian

The “sleepless emperor”The “sleepless emperor”

Most important emperorMost important emperor

Born into Macedonian Born into Macedonian peasant familypeasant family

Wife Theodora - advisor Wife Theodora - advisor

Justinian and TheodoraJustinian and Theodora

Intelligent, Intelligent, strong willedstrong willed

Crushed riots Crushed riots over high taxes over high taxes

Ambitious Ambitious construction construction projects – Hagia projects – Hagia SophiaSophia

Justinian’s CodeJustinian’s Code

Systemic review of Systemic review of Roman LawRoman Law

Most thorough everMost thorough ever

Corpus iuris civilisCorpus iuris civilis

Served as source of Served as source of legal inspirationlegal inspiration

Influenced law codes of Influenced law codes of western Europewestern Europe

Belisarius and Byzantine Belisarius and Byzantine ConquestsConquests

General Belisarius General Belisarius recaptures much of recaptures much of western Roman western Roman Empire under Empire under JustinianJustinian

Unable to consolidate Unable to consolidate control of territoriescontrol of territories

Withdrew to defend Withdrew to defend empire from empire from Sassanids, SlavsSassanids, Slavs

Islamic Conquests and Islamic Conquests and Byzantine RevivalByzantine Revival

77thth century Arab Muslim century Arab Muslim expansionexpansion

Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Syria, Palestine, Egypt and North Africa fall North Africa fall

Besieged Byzantium 674-Besieged Byzantium 674-678, 717-718678, 717-718

Defense made possible Defense made possible through use of “greek fire”through use of “greek fire”

Imperial OrganizationImperial Organization

Political adjustments needed to deal with the challenge of Political adjustments needed to deal with the challenge of IslamIslam

ThemesThemes (provinces) under control of generals (provinces) under control of generals

Military administrationMilitary administration

Control from central imperial governmentControl from central imperial government

Soldiers from peasant class, rewarded with land grantsSoldiers from peasant class, rewarded with land grants

Efficient military and political systemEfficient military and political system

Byzantium and Western Byzantium and Western EuropeEurope

Tensions with Western Tensions with Western EuropeEurope

ChurchChurch Byzantine: Greek; Byzantine: Greek;

Roman: LatinRoman: Latin Conflicts over Conflicts over

hierarchical controlhierarchical control

Germanic peoples Germanic peoples establish rule in Byzantine establish rule in Byzantine landslands Roman pope crowns Roman pope crowns

Charlemagne in 800, a Charlemagne in 800, a challenge to Byzantine challenge to Byzantine authorityauthority

Byzantine Byzantine Economy Economy

and and SocietySociety

ByzantiumByzantium

Dominated military and political affairs of Dominated military and political affairs of the Mediterraneanthe Mediterranean

Legacy of classical age Legacy of classical age Agricultural surplusAgricultural surplus Craft workersCraft workers TradeTrade Social and economic assets of Mediterranean Social and economic assets of Mediterranean

become foundation of Byzantium’s strengthbecome foundation of Byzantium’s strength

Rural Economy and Rural Economy and SocietySociety

Grain from Egypt, Anatolia and Danube Grain from Egypt, Anatolia and Danube region provide Constantinople with grainregion provide Constantinople with grain

Free PeasantryFree Peasantry

Peasants owned small plots of landPeasants owned small plots of land

Byzantine at its strongestByzantine at its strongest

Backbone of military systemBackbone of military system

Wealthy individuals wanted peasant’s landWealthy individuals wanted peasant’s land

Changes in land tenureChanges in land tenure

Theme system benefits free peasantryTheme system benefits free peasantry

Decline of Free Decline of Free PeasantryPeasantry

Large landholdings on the Large landholdings on the increaseincrease

Reduces tax revenues, Reduces tax revenues, recruits to militaryrecruits to military

Wealthy gained tax Wealthy gained tax exemptionsexemptions

Last three centuries indicate Last three centuries indicate steady decline of economysteady decline of economy

Manufacturing Manufacturing EnterprisesEnterprises

Constantinople center of Constantinople center of craft industrycraft industry

GlasswareGlassware

Linen and wool textilesLinen and wool textiles

Gems and jewelryGems and jewelry

Gold and silverGold and silver

Silkworms introduced – Silkworms introduced – became major goodbecame major good

TradeTrade

Wealth built on tradeWealth built on trade

Levied customs duties on Levied customs duties on goods passing through goods passing through

Constantinople linked to Constantinople linked to merchants from Russia, merchants from Russia, central Asia, central Asia, Scandanavia, Northern Scandanavia, Northern Europe, Black Sea region Europe, Black Sea region and Mediterranean Basinand Mediterranean Basin

66thth c. – 12 c. – 12thth c. – Bezant c. – Bezant was main currency in was main currency in MediterraneanMediterranean

Organization of TradeOrganization of Trade

Banks provided loans for new businessBanks provided loans for new business

Partnerships formedPartnerships formed

More extensive than in classical eraMore extensive than in classical era

Urban LifeUrban Life

Constantinople was Constantinople was unrivaledunrivaled

Palace in the centerPalace in the center

20,000 palace 20,000 palace workersworkers

Wine fountainWine fountain

Housing in Housing in ConstantinopleConstantinople

Aristocrats – enormous palacesAristocrats – enormous palaces

Women lived in separate apartmentsWomen lived in separate apartments

Artisans – rooms above workshopsArtisans – rooms above workshops

Government workers- apartmentsGovernment workers- apartments

Poor, workers – rickety tenementsPoor, workers – rickety tenements

Attractions of Attractions of ConstantinopleConstantinople

Taverns, restaurantsTaverns, restaurants

BathsBaths

TheatersTheaters

Hippodrome – stadiums Hippodrome – stadiums for entertainingfor entertaining

Classical Classical Heritage Heritage

and and Orthodox Orthodox

ChristianitChristianityy

The Legacy of Classical The Legacy of Classical GreeceGreece

People of People of Byzantium were Byzantium were Greek speakersGreek speakers

Romans made Latin Romans made Latin official languageofficial language

Greek replaces Greek replaces Latin in 7Latin in 7thth century century

New Testament New Testament originally composed originally composed in Greekin Greek

Byzantine EducationByzantine Education

Large government = Large government = need for educated need for educated intellectualsintellectuals

School system-grammar, School system-grammar, reading, writingreading, writing

Greek literature, Greek literature, philosophy and sciencephilosophy and science

Higher learning school Higher learning school in Constantinoplein Constantinople

Byzantine ScholarshipByzantine Scholarship

Focus on humanitiesFocus on humanities

Studied GreeksStudied Greeks

Considered themselves direct heirs of Considered themselves direct heirs of GreeksGreeks

Kept classical works of Greeks aliveKept classical works of Greeks alive

The Byzantine ChurchThe Byzantine Church

Church and StateChurch and State

Close relationship Close relationship between Byzantine between Byzantine Christianity and Christianity and imperial governmentimperial government

Emperors intervened Emperors intervened in theological debates in theological debates (Council of Nicaea)(Council of Nicaea)

Church was a state Church was a state departmentdepartment

Appointed patriarch Appointed patriarch to support imperial to support imperial policypolicy

IconoclasmIconoclasm

Icons = paintings of Jesus, Icons = paintings of Jesus, saintssaints

Leo III considered them Leo III considered them sinfulsinful

Policy of iconoclasm – Policy of iconoclasm – “breaking of icons”“breaking of icons”

Policy sparked protests and Policy sparked protests and riotsriots

Lasted over 100 yearsLasted over 100 years

Greek Philosophy and Greek Philosophy and Byzantine TheologyByzantine Theology

Theologians examined religious questions Theologians examined religious questions from a philosophical point of viewfrom a philosophical point of view

Sought to understand nature of JesusSought to understand nature of Jesus

Byzantine Christianity build on classical Byzantine Christianity build on classical foundationfoundation

Monasticism and Popular Monasticism and Popular PietyPiety

Piety = devotion to Piety = devotion to GodGod

Lay population = not Lay population = not ordained or member ordained or member of clergy; ordinaryof clergy; ordinary

Laity = ordinary Laity = ordinary peoplepeople

Common people Common people looked more to looked more to monasteries for monasteries for guidanceguidance

AsceticismAsceticism

Devout Devout individuals individuals

Self denial and Self denial and asceticismasceticism

Some lived in Some lived in caves as caves as hermitshermits

Celibacy, Celibacy, fastingfasting

Pilar saintsPilar saints

Byzantine Monasticism and Byzantine Monasticism and St. BasilSt. Basil

Men and women formed Men and women formed monastic communitiesmonastic communities

Monks and nuns give up Monks and nuns give up possessionspossessions

Devoted to work and Devoted to work and prayerprayer

Service to communitiesService to communities

Spreads after 4Spreads after 4thth centurycentury

Mt. AthosMt. Athos

Off limits to Off limits to femalesfemales

Strict lifestyle Strict lifestyle inspired faith inspired faith more than high more than high ranking ranking members of members of clergyclergy

Tensions Between Tensions Between Eastern and Western Eastern and Western

ChristianityChristianity Byzantine developments were different than Byzantine developments were different than

Christianity in western EuropeChristianity in western Europe

Arab conquests led to decline of Christian Arab conquests led to decline of Christian authority in Jerusalem, Alexandria and authority in Jerusalem, Alexandria and AntiochAntioch

Tension between Rome and Constantinople Tension between Rome and Constantinople mirrored tension between Byzantine and mirrored tension between Byzantine and western European societieswestern European societies

Constantinople and Constantinople and RomeRome

Iconoclasm – Rome opposedIconoclasm – Rome opposed

Differences over ritualsDifferences over rituals Type of bread used for communionType of bread used for communion Shaving beardsShaving beards Relationship between God, Jesus and Holy Relationship between God, Jesus and Holy

SpiritSpirit

SchismSchism

Patriarchs and Popes dispute rights and powersPatriarchs and Popes dispute rights and powers

Patriarchs – autonomy of Christian jurisdictionsPatriarchs – autonomy of Christian jurisdictions

Popes – primacy of Rome as the sole seat of Popes – primacy of Rome as the sole seat of authorityauthority

1054 CE – pope and patriarch excommunicate each 1054 CE – pope and patriarch excommunicate each otherother

Eastern church become known as Eastern OrthodoxEastern church become known as Eastern Orthodox

Western church becomes known as Roman CatholicWestern church becomes known as Roman Catholic

The The Influence Influence

of of Byzantium Byzantium in Eastern in Eastern

EuropeEurope

Social ProblemsSocial Problems

Generals of Generals of themes themes become become allied with local aristocratsallied with local aristocrats Intermarry, create class of eliteIntermarry, create class of elite

Occasional rebellions vs. Occasional rebellions vs. Imperial RuleImperial Rule

Revolts disrupt local economiesRevolts disrupt local economies

Free peasantry declineFree peasantry decline

Challenges from the Challenges from the WestWest

Normans – from Normans – from ScandinaviaScandinavia

1212thth and 13 and 13thth century – Crusades century – Crusades to reclaim holy to reclaim holy sitessites

Venice grows Venice grows influential during influential during 44thth Crusades Crusades

Constantinople Constantinople sacked in 1204sacked in 1204

Challenges from the Challenges from the EastEast

Turkish invasions from Turkish invasions from easteast

Muslim Saljuqs invade Muslim Saljuqs invade AnatoliaAnatolia

Byzantine factions turn Byzantine factions turn on each other – lose on each other – lose AnatoliaAnatolia

1453 – Ottoman Turks 1453 – Ottoman Turks capture Constantinoplecapture Constantinople

Byzantium and Slavic Byzantium and Slavic PeoplePeople

Relations from 6Relations from 6thth c. CE c. CE

Serbs, Croats move into Balkan Serbs, Croats move into Balkan peninsulapeninsula

Bulgars establish kingdom on Bulgars establish kingdom on lower Danubelower Danube

Bulgaria influenced culturally, Bulgaria influenced culturally, politicallypolitically

Cyril and MethodiusCyril and Methodius

Missionaries to SlavsMissionaries to Slavs Create Cyrillic alphabet for Create Cyrillic alphabet for

Slavic languageSlavic language Allowed Orthodox Allowed Orthodox

Christianity to spreadChristianity to spread

Slavic lands develop Slavic lands develop orientation to Byzantiumorientation to Byzantium

Byzantium and RussiaByzantium and Russia

Slavs in north began Slavs in north began to organize stateto organize state

Administered from Administered from Kiev on Dnieper RiverKiev on Dnieper River

Kiev becomes Kiev becomes powerful centerpowerful center

Russian princes Russian princes sought alliances with sought alliances with ConstantinopleConstantinople

Interest in Orthodox Interest in Orthodox ChristianityChristianity

Conversion of Prince Conversion of Prince VladimirVladimir

989 – Prince of Kiev989 – Prince of Kiev

Converts to Orthodox Converts to Orthodox ChristianityChristianity

Byzantine teachers Byzantine teachers travelled north to travelled north to establish schoolsestablish schools

Kiev becomes conduit Kiev becomes conduit for spread of for spread of Byzantine culture in Byzantine culture in RussiaRussia

The Growth of KievThe Growth of Kiev

Princes control the Russian Princes control the Russian Orthodox churchOrthodox church

Byzantine culture Byzantine culture influences development of influences development of Slavic culturesSlavic cultures

Distinctively Slavic Distinctively Slavic Orthodox church developsOrthodox church develops

Eventual heir to ByzantiumEventual heir to Byzantium

Moscow – 3Moscow – 3rdrd Rome Rome

SummarySummary

Byzantine empire grew out of Roman empireByzantine empire grew out of Roman empire

Byzantium inherited economy and institutionsByzantium inherited economy and institutions

Christianity grows and eventually separates Christianity grows and eventually separates from Roman churchfrom Roman church

Multicultural empire dominates Mediterranean Multicultural empire dominates Mediterranean and influences developments in eastern and influences developments in eastern Europe.Europe.

Byzantium changes over time to deal with Byzantium changes over time to deal with challengeschallenges