Byzantium as the New Rome

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Byzantium as the New Rome
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Fall of Rome

• When the Western Roman Empire fell in 476, the
  Eastern Roman Empire continued to thrive.
• The capital of the Eastern Empire was Byzantium,
  later renamed Constantinople.
• In 330, Constantine made it the capital because
  1. He could defend it, and 2. it was a rich city.

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Justinian

• In 527, Justinian became the new emperor.
• He retook the Western lands that had once been
  part of the Roman Empire.
• He ruled with absolute power.
• All Byzantine rulers headed the state and the
  church, but with constant threats.
• The Byzantines spoke Greek and belonged to the
  Eastern branch of the Christian Church.

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Justinians Code

• Justinian was most famous for his law code, which
  he created by combining/sorting 400 Roman laws.
• The code contained 4 works
• The Code
• The Digest
• The Institutes
• The Novellae

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Other Projects

• Justinian also undertook a massive building
  program.
• He built stone walls, moats, and churches.
• The most beautiful church was the Hagia Sophia.
• He also enlarges his palace as well as built
  baths, schools, aqueducts, and hospitals.

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Education

• Education was highly valued in Byzantine culture.
• Students studied Greek and Latin grammar,
  philosophy, and rhetoric.
• Students attended monastic or public schools.

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Problems

• Problems developed just before and after the
  death of Justinian in 565
• Plague (from Indian traders)
• Invasion (many tactics used to keep peace)
• Church Division (fight over icons leads to
  permanent schism)

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