The Rise of the

1
The Rise of the Byzantine Empire
2
Introduction You will be viewing a series of
slides that help explain the Byzantine Empire.
You will expected to
view each slide carefully , write down some
basic notes on the slide on the notesheet
provided, complete the Graphic Organizers for
each slide, and answer each of the attached
questions in essay form.
3
Cityscape of Istanbul
4
When Constantine the Great became the first
Christian emperor of Rome, he moved the capital
eastward.
He chose the Greek seaport of Byzantium and
renamed it New Rome. It became known as his city
Constantinople.
Constantine chose the new capital for its fine
harbor and strategic location. The city was
surrounded on three sides by water, which was
excellent for trade, as well as for defense. A
chain stretched across the Golden Horn inlet to
protect it from attacks launched at sea.
The landed side of the city was protected by 13
miles of walls, watchtowers and 50 fortified
gates.
5
Constantinople was at a shipping and trading
crossroads between two continents Europe and
Asia. Whoever ruled Constantinople was in
position to control all shipping from Asia to
Europe, as well as the trade between Russia and
the Mediterranean territories.
Since Constantinople began as the eastern capital
of the Roman Empire, its culture was heavily
influenced by the Roman Empire. The city was
built on seven hills, its buildings and
structures hippodrome, forum and aqueducts
reflected Roman influence. Circuses, chariot
races and the tradition of the emperor giving
bread to the citizens were kept. Moreover,
emperors selected officials on the basis of
talent, not social class.
6
The territory of the Byzantine Empire included
the lands of Greece, Asia Minor, Palestine, Syria
and Egypt. For years is military held off
invasions, its scholars preserved classical
literature and philosophy and its legal experts
codified legal traditions.
The Empire saw 88 rulers come and go. It survived
centuries of riots, religious differences and
foreign threats. However, it ended in 1453 when
Constantinople fell to the Turks. Today it is the
modern city of Istanbul.
7
Emperor Justinian
8
Justinian became emperor at the age of 45.
Procopius described him as devout, determined and
hard-working and at the same time, cruel,
devious and two-faced.
His armies conquered land in Africa, Italy and
Spain to expand the size of the Empire to its
greatest size.
Like all Byzantine Emperors, he was the absolute
head of both the Christian church and the state.
9
He appointed a group of 10 men, working under the
legal scholar Tribonian, to collect and organize
all the laws of the Empire. They created a new
legal code Justinian Code - which became the
basis for many Western legal codes over the years.
His most lasting achievements were his building
programs. Bridges, churches, monasteries and
roads were built. Hospitals, public baths,
recreation centers a library and a seaside park
were also part of this program of public works.
10
Empress Theodora
11
Theodora was an influential and remarkable woman
who sometimes surpassed her husband in political
skill and wisdom.
She was born into the lower class and became a
dancer and actress before she married Justinian.
She advanced her friends to positions in the
government, destroyed her enemies, and sometimes
gave orders that cancelled her husbands.
12
She was responsible for several welfare programs
that helped the citys poor and homeless girls,
and for expanding womens rights.
She saved the empire by convincing her husband to
crush the Nika Rebellion in which an angry mob
began rioting and burning the city.
13
Hagia Sophia
14
When Justinian rebuilt Constantinople, he had 25
cathedrals constructed. The largest was a domed
church named Hagia Sophia.
It took only five years to build the Hagia
Sophia, or the Church of Holy Wisdom. Its dome
reaches 180 feet above the floor. Its diameter is
107 feet and at its circumference it has 40
stained glass windows. Everywhere there was
polished marble in six colors green, black, red,
purple, blue and white.
15
The outside of the church is plain, a brick and
mortar exterior. It represents the daily world
and earthly life.
The rich interior is ornate. It represents the
ideal, spiritual universe that the Byzantines
believed accompanied the coming of Christianity.
The Hagia Sophia also contains two styles of
architecture. The cathedrals size and strength
thick pillars are reminders of the architecture
of Rome. The design and decoration, with its
intricate mosaics, reflect Eastern influences.
The hardest part to build was the penditive. This
is a strangely curved wall space that extends
above the four central arches. It joins two
circular shapes.
16
Icon of Mary and Jesus
17
An icon is a representation of sacred persons or
events. They can appear in several forms in
murals, mosaics, and most typically, painted on
small wooden panels.
Byzantine Christians opposed icons because they
felt it was wrong to worship man-made images. In
the West, religious leaders often used icons and
images to explain Christian teachings because few
people could read.
This rift caused the Christian church to split
into two churches in 1054. The church became
known as the Roman Catholic Church in the West
and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East.
18

• According to the Catholic Church
• Masses were always conducted in Latin.
• The pope was the supreme religious authority.
• All clergy were celibate (They did not marry).
• Religious icons of martyrs and saints were to be
  respected.

Christianity in the east took on a different
tradition Masses were in Greek. Monks and
missionaries translated the Bible into the
language of the people they were trying to
convert. The patriarch, the bishop of
Constantinople, dominated the Byzantine
Church. Bishops could not marry, but priests and
clergy could.
19
Lands of the Byzantine Empire
20
Most of the inhabitants of the Empire were
farmers.
They raised grapes, olives, and wheat, or herded
sheep, and lived on cheese, bread and vegetables
cooked in olive oil.
Constantinople became known as The City. It had
many magnificent buildings, a large population
and commercial success.
It was the home of the wealthy and powerful.
21
Byzantiums trade routes connected three
continents with its system of caravan tracks,
rivers, seaways and roads.
Merchants set up along Constantinoples main
street, displaying everything from rugs and shoes
to fruits and vegetables to icons.
22
India Export Spices, pepper and jewels Import
ivory Africa Export ivory and
gold Import silk (after stealing the process
from China) Russia Export honey, wood and
furs Import art and architecture Spain Export
Cork and grain Import bronze church doors
23
France Export Fine wines and wool Import Silk
England Export Iron and tin Import Works of
the ancient Greeks China Export Silk
Import Christianity
Justinian persuaded missionaries to smuggle from
China silkworms and seeds for the mulberry bush.