The Byzantine Commonwealth. The Early Byzantine Empire Capital: Byzantium On the Bosporus Commercial, strategic value of location Constantine names capital. - презентация

1 The Byzantine Commonwealth

2 The Early Byzantine Empire Capital: Byzantium On the Bosporus Commercial, strategic value of location Constantine names capital after himself (Constantinople), moves capital there 340 CE 1453 falls to Turks, renamed Istanbul

3 Byzantium/Constantinople Roman infrastructure in place – Roads, institutional hierarchies Challenges from strong Persian empire (Sassanid dynasty, CE) Invasions of Germanic peoples

4 Fall of The Roman Empire... in the 15th Century Crash Course World History #12

5 Caesaropapism Power centralized in figure of Emperor Christian leader cannot claim divinity, rather divine authority Political rule Involved in Religious rule as well Authority absolute

6 The Byzantine Court Etiquette reinforces authority of Emperor – Royal purple – Prostration – Mechanical devices designed to inspire awe

7 Justinian ( CE) The sleepless emperor Wife Theodora as advisor – Background: circus performer Uses army to contain tax riots, ambitious construction program – Hagia Sophia Law Code definitive for centuries

8 The Byzantine & neighbors C.E. General Belisarius recaptures much of western Roman Empire under Justinian Unable to consolidate control of territories Withdrew to defend empire from Sassanids, Slavs

9 Islamic Conquests and Byzantine Revival 7 th century Arab Muslim expansion Besieged Byzantium , Defense made possible through use of greek fire

10 Imperial Organization Themes (provinces) under control of generals Military administration Control from central imperial government Soldiers from peasant class, rewarded with land grants

11 Tensions with Western Europe Church – Byzantine: Greek; Roman: Latin – Conflicts over hierarchical control Fealty of Germanic peoples – Roman pope crowns Charlemagne in 800, a challenge to Byzantine authority

12 Byzantine Economy and Society Constantinople largest city in Europe, 5 th -13 th c. Dependent on small landholders, free peasants Earlier large landholdings destroyed by invasions in 6 th -7 th centuries Theme system rewards soldiers with land grants Trade routes bring key technologies, e.g. silk industry Advantage of location causes crafts and industry to expand after 6 th century Tax revenues from silk route Banking services develop Aristocrats: palaces; artisans: apartments; working poor: communal living spaces Hippodrome Chariot races, greens vs. blues Politically inspired rioting

13 Decline of the Free Peasantry Large landholdings on the increase Reduces tax revenues, recruits to military Last three centuries indicate steady decline of economy

14 Orthodox Christianity Legacy of Classical Greece – Greek replaces Latin after 6 th c. CE; language of New Testament Byzantine education sponsors development of large literate class for state bureaucracy – Training in classical canon

15 The Byzantine Church Church and state closely aligned Council of Nicea (325) bans Arian movement – Human/divine nature of Jesus – Constantine favors Arians, but supports Nicean condemnation Byzantine Emperors appoint Patriarchs Caesaropapism creates dissent in church

16 Iconoclasm Emperor Leo III (r CE) Destruction of icons after 726 Popular protest, rioting Policy abandoned 843

17 Greek Philosophy and Byzantine Theology Attempt to reconcile Greek philosophy with Judeo-Christianity Constantine establishes school to apply philosophical methods to religious questions

18 Ascetism Hermit-like existence Celibacy Fasting Prayer St. Simeon Stylite – Lived atop pillar for years

19 Byzantine Monasticism and St. Basil ( CE) Patriarch of Constantinople reforms monasteries Communal living Hierarchical structure Mt. Athos No women, female animals allowed

20 Tensions between Eastern and Western Christianity Ritual disputes – Beards on clergy – Leavened bread for Mass Theological disputes – Iconoclasm – Nature of the Trinity

21 Schism Arguments over hierarchy, jurisdiction Autonomy of Patriarchs, or Primacy of Rome? 1054 Patriarch of Constantinople and Pope of Rome excommunicate each other – East: Orthodox Church – West: Roman Catholic

22 Social Problems in the Byzantine Empire Generals of themes become allied with local aristocrats – Intermarry, create class of elite Occasional rebellions vs. Imperial Rule

23 The Byzantine empire and its neighbors about 1100 C.E. Western European economic development Normans from Scandinavia press on Byzantine territories Crusades of 12 th -13 th centuries rampage through Byzantine territory Constantinople sacked, 1204 Muslim Saljuqs invade Anatolia Threatens grain supply Defeat Byzantine army in 1071, creates civil conflict Period of steady decline until Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople in 1453 Renamed Istanbul

24 Andrew Marrs History of the World: Episode 4 Orthodoxy Spreads to Kiev 7:31-10:15

25 Influence on Slavic Cultures Relations from 6 th c. CE Bulgaria influenced culturally, politically Saints Cyril and Methodius – Create Cyrillic alphabet Slavic lands develop orientation to Byzantium

26 Kievan Rus Conversion of Prince Vladimir, 989 Byzantine culture influences development of Slavic cultures Distinctively Slavic Orthodox church develops Eventual heir to Byzantium

27 Orthodox Adherents Today