The Byzantine Empire grew to become a powerful and influential empire with its capital of Constantinople, which was well protected and situated on a natural harbor. Constantinople became a thriving cultural and economic center as a crossroads of trade between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Under Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, the Byzantine Empire reached its greatest extent as he recodified Roman law and had the general Belisarius expand the empire's territories, though this also led to a schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. Byzantine culture preserved Greek and Roman learning and influenced neighboring Slavic peoples. The empire eventually declined as it faced numerous invasions, falling to the Ottoman Turks in 1453

1. #?
The Byzantine Empire
Textbook pages 298-313

2. Growth of the Byzantine Empire
• Constantinople:
– Protection of eastern frontier
– Easily fortified (defendable), on natural
harbor. Overlooked the Bosporus Strait.
– Away from Germanic invasions
– Seat of power until Ottoman Conquest in
1453

3. CONSTANTINOPLE

5. • Crossroads of Trade:
- Goods coming from Europe, Asia, Africa
- Silk and paper industry thriving.
- Taxes on trade and industry provide
money for gov’t, army, and buildings
-Cultural melting pot: (Roman law, Greek
culture, and Orthodox Christianity)
• Greek + Roman = Greco-Roman

6. Age of Justinian
• Emperor Justinian (ruled 527-565AD) hoped to
revive the glory and power of the Roman
Empire.
• The Justinian Code: Codification of Roman
Law (4 parts)
– Code: useful Roman laws
– Digest: summarized Roman legal opinions
– Institutes: guide for law students
– Novellae: contained laws passed after 534AD
* Significant influence on European law codes

7. • Empress Theodora:
- Justinian’s wife
- Urges him to change Byzantine law to give
more rights to women.
-women could own property
equal to the value of their dowry.
• Nika Revolt:
- Rebellion that threatened to overthrow
Justinian. He wanted to flee, Theodora
encouraged him to fight.
-Belisarius led the troops that crushed the
revolt. Justinian makes him general of the army.

8. • Constantinople was a rich city with a
strong navy. “Greek Fire” was thrown at
ships and set them on fire.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
• The West and East had different ideas
about church practices. This led to a
division (schism) in The Church. 1054AD

9. Major Disagreements between the Roman
Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches
Roman Catholic- WEST Eastern Orthodox – EAST
• No Married priests • Married priests allowed
allowed • Icons rejected – later
• Icons accepted accepted
• Pope was supreme • Pope not supreme –
authority
local leaders supreme
• Accepted the view that
• Believed in supremacy
the Holy Spirit
combines both Father of the Father in the
and Son (Council of Trinity
Nicea)

10. Byzantine Culture
• Passed on to future generations the learning of
ancient Greece, Rome, and the East.
• Cyril and Methodius went to teach the Slavs the
Bible. They gave them an alphabet which is
known as Cyrillic.
• Mosaics and architecture.
- Hagia Sophia- Church, one of the world’s
biggest buildings
DECLINE – Many different groups invade the
Byzantine Empire. 1453AD the Ottoman Turks
capture Constantinople. End of Byzantine Empire