Byzantine Empire

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Byzantine Empire

• Eastern Roman Empire
• Continued from 476-1453

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Byzantine LifeChristianity and Culture

• A distinct culture was created, and a distinct
  branch of Christianity. (Eastern Orthodox)
• The Western Church was reorganized under the
  power of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.(Roman
  Catholic)
• In the east, the Pope was not recognized as the
  supreme authority and the two branches drifted
  apart. (Schism)
• The Patriarch of Constantinople was and is the
  most important leader for Orthodox Church.

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Byzantine Empire at its height
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Byzantine Culture

• Preserved the culture of the Mediterranean as
  well as extending this culture to the slavs.
  People of central Europe and Russia.
• Written language was introduced to these people
  by Christian missionaries, Cyril and Methodius.
  They modified the Greek Alphabet and created the
  Cyrillic alphabet so that people could read the
  Bible.

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Sts Cyril Methodiusand the Cyrillic alphabet
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Byzantine Art architecture

• Glorified ReligionUsed Mosaics, inlaid jewels or
  glass to make religious pictures to aid in
  devotion.
• Noted for use of bright colors and ornamentation.
• Pictures are called icons.
• Architecture The best examples of art are their
  churches.
• Hagia Sophia, church, mosque now a museum

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Mosaics
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Hagia Sophia(Holy Wisdom)
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Contributions

• The most important contribution to civilization
  was the preservation of Roman Law. Under the
  reign of Emperor Justinian , the collection of
  Roman laws were reorganized. This codification
  of Roman law is sometimes referred to as
  Justinian's Code.
• The Empire also served as a shield to Western
  Europe against Muslim invasions.

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Justinian
Justinian was the Emperor during the Golden Age
of The Byzantine Empire When it was at
its Height and it largest Area.
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Role of Women in the Empire

• Women of nobility were highly educated in the
  Greek classics. Princess Anna Comnena was an
  example of the success women could achieve. She
  is considered to be one of the foremost
  historians of that time. Her historic writings
  are recognized still.

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Princess Anna Comnena
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Decline and Fall

• In the 1000s the Seljuk Turks captured most of
  Asia Minor, this area was an important part of
  the Byzantine Empire. When the city of
  Constantinople was at risk, the Emperor asked for
  help from the west. This led to the Crusades
  which ended the Dark Ages in the West. The
  Crusaders did eventually attack and take
  Constantinople in 1204.

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Seljuk Turks
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Crusaders taking Constantinople
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Decline and Fall

• The Byzantines eventually recaptured the city but
  it was weakened.
• In 1453, the city was taken by the Ottoman Turks
  and this marks the end of the Byzantine Empire.
• The Ottoman Turks were a remnant of the Seljuks
  who ruled a small area in Northwest Anatolia.
  Genetically, the Ottomans were not like their
  Central Asian Seljuk forebears, having
  intermarried with the local Greek-speaking
  Anatolian population.
• Russia was influenced by the Byzantine Empire and
  consider themselves to be a 3rd Rome.

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1580 Ottoman Empire
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Istanbul ,former Constantinople
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Istanbul today