WHI: SOL 7a, b

Byzantine Empire

Location of Constantinople

• Protection of the eastern frontier• Distance from Germanic invasions in the

western empire• Crossroads of trade• Easily fortified site on a peninsula bordered by

natural harbors

Role of Constantinople

• Seat of the Byzantine Empire until Ottoman conquest

• Preserved classical Greco-Roman culture• Center of trade

On your map:• Use textbook pg. 286• Mediterranean Sea• Sea of Marmara• Aegean Sea• Black Sea• Caspian Sea

• Africa• Asia• Europe• Constantinople (city)• Rome (city)• Asia Minor• Greece• Balkan Peninsula

On your white board:• If you traveled from Rome to Constantinople,

in what cardinal direction would you travel?• What body of water separates Constantinople

from Asia?• What seas are connected by the Hellespont

(Dardanelles)?• What ruler was responsible for the expansion

of the Byzantine Empire?

Byzantine Emperor Justinian• Ruled from 527 a.d. to 565 a.d.• Codification of Roman law (had an impact on

modern European legal codes)– Justinian’s Law

• Reconquered former Roman territories (General Belisarius)

• Expansion of trade• Rebuilt Constantinople after riots and a fire• Co-ruled with his wife Theodora• Strong military tactics (Greek fire)

Contributions to Law

• Justinian best known for his codification of Greek and Roman laws – “Justinian Code”

• Six years dedicated to simplifying 1600 books and tens of thousands of Greek and Roman laws into just four sections and 4,000 laws.

Justinians Military Conquests

• Justinian dreamed of reuniting the former territory of the Roman Empire

• Was almost constantly at war with neighboring civilizations and smaller tribes to overtake old Roman land

• With new tactics and weapons (like Greek Fire) the Byzantine territory grew to Spain, Africa and Italy

The Lasting Legacy of Justinian

• Married an actress (in a scandal that involved his rewriting of the marriage laws) named Theodora shortly before becoming Emperor

• Theodora was bright and influential in her husbands rule – by encouraging him, offering him advice and even helping to subdue dissent amongst the citizens

Laws about Justinian Code American Laws

Women’s Rights

All women can own property, make contracts and will, and

bring a lawsuit.

All women can own property, make contracts and wills, bring a lawsuit - the same rights as men.

Robbery Robbery was not a crime. The victim could sue the robber for up

to four times the values of the stolen property.

Robbery is a crime and is punishable by a fine and/ or a prison sentence.

Failure to pay debts

People owed something had to sue the person owing them to

gain debt back.

People owed something had to sue the person owing them to gain debt

back.

Murder Murder was punished by banishment

Murder is punished by a prison sentence or death.

Inheritance Women could not inherit property from their husbands unless it was

provided in a will. Children received equal amounts of the

father’s estate.

Standard law allows wives and children to divide an estate. Other directions can be provided for in a

will.

On your map:

Shade in the Byzantine Empire as it was at different points in history:• Byzantine Empire in 565 A.D. (C.E.) (under

Justinian)• Byzantine Empire in 1000 A.D. (C.E.)