1. +
A Byzantine Snapshot

2. +
The Empire Forms
 In 330 CE, Constantine
renamed the city of Byzantium
Constantinople
 When the Roman Empire was
split, Constantinople became
the capital of the Eastern
Roman Empire
 When the Western Empire
fell, the Eastern Empire
became its own sovereign
empire
 What does sovereign
mean?

3. +
Territory
 Began with all the territory that
was the Eastern Roman Empire
 Would slowly expand that
territory over time.

4. +
Territory by 565

5. +
Capital
 Constantinople was the heavily
fortified capital of the Byzantine
Empire.
 Located at the crossroads of Asian
and European trade routes
 Easily defended from land, the city
was surrounded by water on three
sides
 Had strong walls and was well
defended

6. +
Capital
 The harbor had chains strung
across it to prevent unwanted
ships from getting in.
 When Rome fell, became the
wealthiest and most advanced
city in the western world
 Eventually became home to over
one million people.

7. +

8. +
Technology
 Maintained level of Roman
technology
 Had a rare sewer system to
maintain public health
 Crossroads for both European and
Middle Eastern thought and
technologies
 Provided social services including
hospitals, nursing
homes, orphanages

9. +
Culture
 The Byzantine Empire changed
the language of the Empire from
Roman to Greek
 Followed Greek culture
 This happened as the Latin areas
of the Roman empire were taken
over and the Greek areas
remained

10. +
Culture
 Art was focused on religious figures and scenes
 For recreation, the people of the Byzantine empire
would watch chariot races in the Hippodrome
 Had unique architecture different from both Rome and
Greece

11. +
Art

12. +

13. +

14. +
Government
 Emperor was the head of
government and was was
believed to have divine authority
 The Senate did not have any
real authority, but continued to
exist
 Strategos were people that
governed certain regions of the
empire. Sup?