Kingdoms and Christianity Section 1

Kingdoms and Christianity Section 1

Preview

• Starting Points Map: Spread of Christianity

• Main Idea / Reading Focus

• Emperors Rule in Constantinople

• Faces of History: Justinian and Theodora

• Byzantine Culture

• The Empire Declines

The Byzantine Empire

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Reading Focus

• How did Byzantine emperors rule their empire from Constantinople?

• What were some important features of Byzantine culture?

• What led to the decline of the Byzantine Empire?

Main Idea

The Byzantine Empire, once the eastern half of the Roman Empire, was held together for centuries by strong leaders, profitable trade, and the influence of Christianity.

The Byzantine Empire

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Constantinople—Greek for “The City of Constantine”—became the capital of the roman Empire under Emperor Constantine I.

• Constantinople seat of Eastern Roman Empire

• Became known as Byzantine Empire

• Remained capital of Eastern Empire long after Rome fell

• Even before fall of Rome, Constantinople larger, richer city than Rome

A New Rome• Location on Bosporus Strait

helped control trade between Asia, Europe

• Also helped guard city from attack

– Sea protected city on two sides

– Heavily fortified walls protected landward side

Location

Emperors Rule in Constantinople

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Claim to Empire

• Western part of empire still claimed by eastern emperors

• Byzantine emperor Justinian I wanted to restore original Roman Empire

Belisarius

• 533, Justinian sent ships, troops to northern Africa

• Troops led by top general, Belisarius

Military Action

• Military action needed to accomplish Justinian’s goal

• First had to reconquer North African territories taken by Germanic tribe, Vandals

Successes

• By 534, fleet had recaptured African region, absorbed back into Roman Empire

• 535, Belisarius led troops to Italy to retake that region

Reclaiming Western Empire

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• Two factions led revolt: Greens representing lower classes, Blues upper classes

• Constantinople in flames, Justinian prepared to flee

• Theodora stood firm, refused to flee, back down, convinced Justinian to do same

• Belisarius attacked rioters, slaughtered them by thousands

Rebellion Quelled

• Justinian, wife Theodora served as co-rulers of empire

• At home, faced threat from rebels

• Many resented Justinian’s efforts to reform empire’s administration

• 532, opposition led to rebellion called Nika Revolt

Facing Problems

Rebellion at Home

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Kingdoms and Christianity Section 1

Justinian’s Code

• Justinian set up commission that codified, systematically arranged, empire’s existing laws, legal opinions into clear system

• Corpus Juris Civilis had four parts; first part included all existing constitutions from time of Emperor Hadrian

• Code later updated, expanded to include Justinian’s laws as well

Achievements

• Nika Revolt destroyed parts of Constantinople

• Gave Justinian, Theodora chance to rebuilt city with new monuments

• Most important new building, church, Hagia Sophia, “Holy Wisdom”

• Spectacular blend of domes, arches; building still stands

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Changes after Justinian

• Justinian’s achievements many, but did not last

– Died 565, left government nearly bankrupt from expenses of taking back empire’s territory

– Had expanded empire beyond what government could effectively administer

– Western provinces fell to migrating tribes after his death

• Reign of Heraclius began 610

– Heraclius defeated Persians on eastern border

– Settled Croats, Serbs within Balkan frontiers to west to act as buffers against new invaders

– Croats, Serbs converted to Christianity, extending Byzantine influence into region

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Summarize

What did Justinian accomplish during his reign?

Answer(s): put down the Nika Revolt, built the Hagia Sophia, reformed Roman law

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The Role of the Emperor

• Two institutions central to Byzantine culture—emperor, Christianity

• Emperor, priest-king, considered deputy of Jesus Christ on earth, his co-ruler

• Emperor responsible for both civil, religious law

End to Roman Traditions

• Emperor Heraclius brought official end to Roman traditions

• Made Greek official language, replacing Latin

• Replaced old Roman imperial titles with Greek ones

Changing Culture

• Example of emperor’s influence reflected in empire’s changing culture

• People of Constantinople referred to selves as Roman, but Greek cultural influences grew stronger

Byzantine Culture

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• Christianity greatly influenced artistic life of Byzantines

• Art, architecture, literature based on religious themes

• Byzantine art often featured saints, figures from Bible

• Most art in form of mosaics

• Mosaics decorated floors, walls, ceilings

• Nature of Byzantine mosaics, painting changed over time

• Became more detailed, stylized

• Symbols used for common themes

• Examples: hand above cross, hand of God; 12 lambs, Christian flock, community, on earth

Stylized Art• Religion force behind Byzantine

architecture; churches built by placing round dome over square foundation

• Rested dome on corner supports, not walls, as in Hagia Sophia

• Influenced styles in Europe, Asia

Architecture

Religion and the Arts

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Reaction against iconoclasm raged on and off until 843 when a council settled the issue by accepting icons. The dispute played a crucial role in the growing

divide between the emperor in Constantinople and the pope in Rome.

In the 700s the use of art in churches deeply divided society. This religious controversy threatened the strength of both church and state. The controversy involved the use of icons—paintings or sculptures of sacred figures.

• Churches contained beautiful icons

• Some Christians objected to their presence, believed use too close to non-Christian worship of idols

• People called iconoclasts, “icon breaker”

Icons and Controversy

Religious Conflicts

• 726, Emperor Leo III forbade use of icons, ordered destruction

• Iconoclast movement unpopular with many in church hierarchy

• Since few could read, clergy found sacred images useful for teaching

Iconoclast Movement

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Growing Divisions

• Over time, number of issues that divided eastern, western churches grew

• Use of Greek one difference; theological differences also emerged

• Eastern church allowed clergy to marry, western church did not

Schism

• 1054, differences became so large, schism, split, occurred between churches

• Church in east became Orthodox Church, west remained Roman Catholic

• Later hurt Byzantine Empire, could not rely on western help against invaders

Church Governance

• Pope in Rome, patriarchs in Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem were church leaders; emperor oversaw church law, did not govern church

• Byzantines did not accept pope as supreme authority over religious issues

The Church Splits

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Summarize

What led to the split between the eastern and western churches?

Answer(s): theological differences, including use of icons; use of Greek; allowing members of the clergy to marry

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As far back as the reign of Heraclius, Muslims had threatened the empire. Over time, Islam, pressure from migrating tribes, and internal conflict and corruption brought about the Byzantine Empire’s fall.

• Byzantines constantly attacked on northern borders

• 600s, provinces of Egypt, Syria fell to Muslim conquerors

• Leo III stopped advancing Muslim forces 718, 740

Invaders in Empire• Constantine V won

victories against Bulgars; successors failed to maintain his gains

• By 800s, Byzantines had endured century of crises

Century of Crises• Macedonian dynasty

ruled 867 to 1056

• Emperors improved peasantry, created law school

• Extended Byzantine rule, Balkans, Bulgars

• Established Orthodox Christianity in southeastern Europe

Period of Calm

The Empire Declines

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• Focus on culture came at a cost

• Members of military aristocracy saw things differently

• Based in provinces, more aware of encroaching danger than government in capital

• Supported emperors who had been soldiers themselves

Military Viewpoint

• Macedonian dynasty began to decline after about 150 years

• Conflicts symptoms of divide within Byzantine society

• Constantinople government composed of well-educated, cultured aristocrats

• Supported emperors who restrained military, used energies to make Constantinople center of culture, learning

Civilian Viewpoint

Internal Weaknesses

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Continuing strife between the military and the Constantinople government weakened the empire, making it vulnerable to challengers from the outside.

• Seljuk Turks conquering areas on empire’s borders

• 1071, Turks defeated Byzantine army at Manzikert; permanently weakened Byzantines in eastern Asia Minor

• Same year, also lost last outposts in Italy, ending presence in west

• By 1391, empire reduced to Constantinople, outlying districts

New Enemies• 1453, Constantinople fell to

Ottoman Turks

• Turks renamed city Istanbul; Hagia Sophia became mosque

• Ottomans had gained important seat of power, spread influence into Greece, Balkans

• Byzantine legacy: preservation of ancient Greco-Roman heritage; buffer between Christian West, Muslim East

Byzantine Legacy

Final Decline

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Identifying Cause and Effect

What was the connection between the rise of Islam and the fall of the Byzantine

Empire?

Answer(s): possible answer—As Islam spread and gained followers, Muslim invaders threatened the Byzantines.