The Commonwealth of Byzantium Chapter 13

The Big Picture Long distance trade continues to grow due to new technology Technological developments shape the world – compass, gunpowder, improved ship-building Movement of people alters world – nomads interact with settles people Religions evolve – Buddhism, Christianity, Islam preach equality of believers, new paths for women Religions influence - unifying force and source of conflict Political structures adapt and change – Centralized and decentralized

Long distance trade continues to grow due to new technology

Technological developments shape the world – compass, gunpowder, improved ship-building

Movement of people alters world – nomads interact with settles people

Religions evolve – Buddhism, Christianity, Islam preach equality of believers, new paths for women

Religions influence - unifying force and source of conflict

Political structures adapt and change – Centralized and decentralized

Learning Goal Evaluate the significance of the Byzantine Empire on the civilization of Europe.

Evaluate the significance of the Byzantine Empire on the civilization of Europe.

Guiding Question How did the Byzantine political organization and culture and affect the development of eastern Europe?

How did the Byzantine political organization and culture and affect the development of eastern Europe?

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

Capital: Byzantium

Commercial, strategic value of location

Constantine names capital after himself (Constantinople), moves capital there 340 CE

1453 falls to Turks, renamed Istanbul

The Later Roman Empire and Byzantium Byzantine Empire inherits Roman Empire after fall of Rome in 5 th c. CE Expanded and retracted Eastern territories remain major power until 13 th c. CE

Byzantine Empire inherits Roman Empire after fall of Rome in 5 th c. CE

Expanded and retracted

Eastern territories remain major power until 13 th c. CE

The Later Roman Empire Roman infrastructure in place Roads, institutional hierarchies, communications, Challenges from strong Persian empire (Sassanid dynasty, 226-641 CE) and Invasions of Germanic peoples

Roman infrastructure in place

Roads, institutional hierarchies, communications,

Challenges from strong Persian empire (Sassanid dynasty, 226-641 CE) and Invasions of Germanic peoples

The Early Byzantine State Tradition of statecraft Highly centralized rule Power in hands of exalted emperor Constantine

Tradition of statecraft

Highly centralized rule

Power in hands of exalted emperor

Constantine

Caesaropapism Constantine – 1 st Christian emperor Christian leader cannot claim divinity, rather divine authority Involved in political and religious rule After 6 th c. – emperors exalted absolute rulers

Constantine – 1 st Christian emperor

Christian leader cannot claim divinity, rather divine authority

Involved in political and religious rule

After 6 th c. – emperors exalted absolute rulers

The Byzantine Court Etiquette reinforces authority of Emperor Heavy, bejeweled crown Royal purple Prostration Mechanical devices designed to inspire awe High officials presented themselves as slaves to the emperor

Etiquette reinforces authority of Emperor

Heavy, bejeweled crown

Royal purple

Prostration

Mechanical devices designed to inspire awe

High officials presented themselves as slaves to the emperor

Justinian The “sleepless emperor” Most important emperor Born into Macedonian peasant family Wife Theodora - advisor

The “sleepless emperor”

Most important emperor

Born into Macedonian peasant family

Wife Theodora - advisor

Justinian and Theodora Intelligent, strong willed Crushed riots over high taxes Ambitious construction projects – Hagia Sophia

Intelligent, strong willed

Crushed riots over high taxes

Ambitious construction projects – Hagia Sophia

Justinian’s Code Systemic review of Roman Law Most thorough ever Corpus iuris civilis Served as source of legal inspiration Influenced law codes of western Europe

Systemic review of Roman Law

Most thorough ever

Corpus iuris civilis

Served as source of legal inspiration

Influenced law codes of western Europe

Belisarius and Byzantine Conquests General Belisarius recaptures much of western Roman Empire under Justinian Unable to consolidate control of territories Withdrew to defend empire from Sassanids, Slavs

General Belisarius recaptures much of western Roman Empire under Justinian

Unable to consolidate control of territories

Withdrew to defend empire from Sassanids, Slavs

Islamic Conquests and Byzantine Revival 7 th century Arab Muslim expansion Syria, Palestine, Egypt and North Africa fall Besieged Byzantium 674-678, 717-718 Defense made possible through use of “greek fire”

7 th century Arab Muslim expansion

Syria, Palestine, Egypt and North Africa fall

Besieged Byzantium 674-678, 717-718

Defense made possible through use of “greek fire”

Imperial Organization Political adjustments needed to deal with the challenge of Islam Themes (provinces) under control of generals Military administration Control from central imperial government Soldiers from peasant class, rewarded with land grants Efficient military and political system

Political adjustments needed to deal with the challenge of Islam

Themes (provinces) under control of generals

Military administration

Control from central imperial government

Soldiers from peasant class, rewarded with land grants

Efficient military and political system

Byzantium and Western Europe

Tensions with Western Europe Church Byzantine: Greek; Roman: Latin Conflicts over hierarchical control Germanic peoples establish rule in Byzantine lands Roman pope crowns Charlemagne in 800, a challenge to Byzantine authority

Church

Byzantine: Greek; Roman: Latin

Conflicts over hierarchical control

Germanic peoples establish rule in Byzantine lands

Roman pope crowns Charlemagne in 800, a challenge to Byzantine authority

Byzantine Economy and Society

Byzantium Dominated military and political affairs of the Mediterranean Legacy of classical age Agricultural surplus Craft workers Trade Social and economic assets of Mediterranean become foundation of Byzantium’s strength

Dominated military and political affairs of the Mediterranean

Legacy of classical age

Agricultural surplus

Craft workers

Trade

Social and economic assets of Mediterranean become foundation of Byzantium’s strength

Rural Economy and Society Grain from Egypt, Anatolia and Danube region provide Constantinople with grain

Grain from Egypt, Anatolia and Danube region provide Constantinople with grain

Free Peasantry Peasants owned small plots of land Byzantine at its strongest Backbone of military system Wealthy individuals wanted peasant’s land Changes in land tenure Theme system benefits free peasantry

Peasants owned small plots of land

Byzantine at its strongest

Backbone of military system

Wealthy individuals wanted peasant’s land

Changes in land tenure

Theme system benefits free peasantry

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

Large landholdings on the increase

Reduces tax revenues, recruits to military

Wealthy gained tax exemptions

Last three centuries indicate steady decline of economy

Manufacturing Enterprises Constantinople center of craft industry Glassware Linen and wool textiles Gems and jewelry Gold and silver Silkworms introduced – became major good

Constantinople center of craft industry

Glassware

Linen and wool textiles

Gems and jewelry

Gold and silver

Silkworms introduced – became major good

Trade Wealth built on trade Levied customs duties on goods passing through Constantinople linked to merchants from Russia, central Asia, Scandanavia, Northern Europe, Black Sea region and Mediterranean Basin 6 th c. – 12 th c. – Bezant was main currency in Mediterranean

Wealth built on trade

Levied customs duties on goods passing through

Constantinople linked to merchants from Russia, central Asia, Scandanavia, Northern Europe, Black Sea region and Mediterranean Basin

6 th c. – 12 th c. – Bezant was main currency in Mediterranean

Organization of Trade Banks provided loans for new business Partnerships formed More extensive than in classical era

Banks provided loans for new business

Partnerships formed

More extensive than in classical era

Urban Life Constantinople was unrivaled Palace in the center 20,000 palace workers Wine fountain

Constantinople was unrivaled

Palace in the center

20,000 palace workers

Wine fountain

Housing in Constantinople Aristocrats – enormous palaces Women lived in separate apartments Artisans – rooms above workshops Government workers- apartments Poor, workers – rickety tenements

Aristocrats – enormous palaces

Women lived in separate apartments

Artisans – rooms above workshops

Government workers- apartments

Poor, workers – rickety tenements

Attractions of Constantinople Taverns, restaurants Baths Theaters Hippodrome – stadiums for entertaining

Taverns, restaurants

Baths

Theaters

Hippodrome – stadiums for entertaining

Classical Heritage and Orthodox Christianity

The Legacy of Classical Greece People of Byzantium were Greek speakers Romans made Latin official language Greek replaces Latin in 7 th century New Testament originally composed in Greek

People of Byzantium were Greek speakers

Romans made Latin official language

Greek replaces Latin in 7 th century

New Testament originally composed in Greek

Byzantine Education Large government = need for educated intellectuals School system-grammar, reading, writing Greek literature, philosophy and science Higher learning school in Constantinople

Large government = need for educated intellectuals

School system-grammar, reading, writing

Greek literature, philosophy and science

Higher learning school in Constantinople

Byzantine Scholarship Focus on humanities Studied Greeks Considered themselves direct heirs of Greeks Kept classical works of Greeks alive

Focus on humanities

Studied Greeks

Considered themselves direct heirs of Greeks

Kept classical works of Greeks alive

The Byzantine Church

Church and State Close relationship between Byzantine Christianity and imperial government Emperors intervened in theological debates (Council of Nicaea) Church was a state department Appointed patriarch to support imperial policy

Close relationship between Byzantine Christianity and imperial government

Emperors intervened in theological debates (Council of Nicaea)

Church was a state department

Appointed patriarch to support imperial policy

Iconoclasm Icons = paintings of Jesus, saints Leo III considered them sinful Policy of iconoclasm – “breaking of icons” Policy sparked protests and riots Lasted over 100 years

Icons = paintings of Jesus, saints

Leo III considered them sinful

Policy of iconoclasm – “breaking of icons”

Policy sparked protests and riots

Lasted over 100 years

Greek Philosophy and Byzantine Theology Theologians examined religious questions from a philosophical point of view Sought to understand nature of Jesus Byzantine Christianity build on classical foundation

Theologians examined religious questions from a philosophical point of view

Sought to understand nature of Jesus

Byzantine Christianity build on classical foundation

Monasticism and Popular Piety Piety = devotion to God Lay population = not ordained or member of clergy; ordinary Laity = ordinary people Common people looked more to monasteries for guidance

Piety = devotion to God

Lay population = not ordained or member of clergy; ordinary

Laity = ordinary people

Common people looked more to monasteries for guidance

Asceticism Devout individuals Self denial and asceticism Some lived in caves as hermits Celibacy, fasting Pilar saints

Devout individuals

Self denial and asceticism

Some lived in caves as hermits

Celibacy, fasting

Pilar saints

Byzantine Monasticism and St. Basil Men and women formed monastic communities Monks and nuns give up possessions Devoted to work and prayer Service to communities Spreads after 4 th century

Men and women formed monastic communities

Monks and nuns give up possessions

Devoted to work and prayer

Service to communities

Spreads after 4 th century

Mt. Athos Off limits to females Strict lifestyle inspired faith more than high ranking members of clergy

Off limits to females

Strict lifestyle inspired faith more than high ranking members of clergy

Tensions Between Eastern and Western Christianity Byzantine developments were different than Christianity in western Europe Arab conquests led to decline of Christian authority in Jerusalem, Alexandria and Antioch Tension between Rome and Constantinople mirrored tension between Byzantine and western European societies

Byzantine developments were different than Christianity in western Europe

Arab conquests led to decline of Christian authority in Jerusalem, Alexandria and Antioch

Tension between Rome and Constantinople mirrored tension between Byzantine and western European societies

Constantinople and Rome Iconoclasm – Rome opposed Differences over rituals Type of bread used for communion Shaving beards Relationship between God, Jesus and Holy Spirit

Iconoclasm – Rome opposed

Differences over rituals

Type of bread used for communion

Shaving beards

Relationship between God, Jesus and Holy Spirit

Schism Patriarchs and Popes dispute rights and powers Patriarchs – autonomy of Christian jurisdictions Popes – primacy of Rome as the sole seat of authority 1054 CE – pope and patriarch excommunicate each other Eastern church become known as Eastern Orthodox Western church becomes known as Roman Catholic

Patriarchs and Popes dispute rights and powers

Patriarchs – autonomy of Christian jurisdictions

Popes – primacy of Rome as the sole seat of authority

1054 CE – pope and patriarch excommunicate each other

Eastern church become known as Eastern Orthodox

Western church becomes known as Roman Catholic

The Influence of Byzantium in Eastern Europe

Social Problems Generals of themes become allied with local aristocrats Intermarry, create class of elite Occasional rebellions vs. Imperial Rule Revolts disrupt local economies Free peasantry decline

Generals of themes become allied with local aristocrats

Intermarry, create class of elite

Occasional rebellions vs. Imperial Rule

Revolts disrupt local economies

Free peasantry decline

Challenges from the West Normans – from Scandinavia 12 th and 13 th century – Crusades to reclaim holy sites Venice grows influential during 4 th Crusades Constantinople sacked in 1204

Normans – from Scandinavia

12 th and 13 th century – Crusades to reclaim holy sites

Venice grows influential during 4 th Crusades

Constantinople sacked in 1204

Challenges from the East Turkish invasions from east Muslim Saljuqs invade Anatolia Byzantine factions turn on each other – lose Anatolia 1453 – Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople

Turkish invasions from east

Muslim Saljuqs invade Anatolia

Byzantine factions turn on each other – lose Anatolia

1453 – Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople

Byzantium and Slavic People Relations from 6 th c. CE Serbs, Croats move into Balkan peninsula Bulgars establish kingdom on lower Danube Bulgaria influenced culturally, politically

Relations from 6 th c. CE

Serbs, Croats move into Balkan peninsula

Bulgars establish kingdom on lower Danube

Bulgaria influenced culturally, politically

Cyril and Methodius Missionaries to Slavs Create Cyrillic alphabet for Slavic language Allowed Orthodox Christianity to spread Slavic lands develop orientation to Byzantium

Missionaries to Slavs

Create Cyrillic alphabet for Slavic language

Allowed Orthodox Christianity to spread

Slavic lands develop orientation to Byzantium

Byzantium and Russia Slavs in north began to organize state Administered from Kiev on Dnieper River Kiev becomes powerful center Russian princes sought alliances with Constantinople Interest in Orthodox Christianity

Slavs in north began to organize state

Administered from Kiev on Dnieper River

Kiev becomes powerful center

Russian princes sought alliances with Constantinople

Interest in Orthodox Christianity

Conversion of Prince Vladimir 989 – Prince of Kiev Converts to Orthodox Christianity Byzantine teachers travelled north to establish schools Kiev becomes conduit for spread of Byzantine culture in Russia

989 – Prince of Kiev

Converts to Orthodox Christianity

Byzantine teachers travelled north to establish schools

Kiev becomes conduit for spread of Byzantine culture in Russia

The Growth of Kiev Princes control the Russian Orthodox church Byzantine culture influences development of Slavic cultures Distinctively Slavic Orthodox church develops Eventual heir to Byzantium Moscow – 3 rd Rome

Princes control the Russian Orthodox church

Byzantine culture influences development of Slavic cultures

Distinctively Slavic Orthodox church develops

Eventual heir to Byzantium

Moscow – 3 rd Rome

Summary Byzantine empire grew out of Roman empire Byzantium inherited economy and institutions Christianity grows and eventually separates from Roman church Multicultural empire dominates Mediterranean and influences developments in eastern Europe. Byzantium changes over time to deal with challenges

Byzantine empire grew out of Roman empire

Byzantium inherited economy and institutions

Christianity grows and eventually separates from Roman church

Multicultural empire dominates Mediterranean and influences developments in eastern Europe.

Byzantium changes over time to deal with challenges