The Byzantine Empire was the eastern half of the Roman Empire that continued after Rome fell in 476 CE. Centered in modern-day Greece and Turkey with its capital of Constantinople, it lasted from the late 300s to 1453 CE and preserved Greek and Roman knowledge through the Dark Ages while spreading Christianity. It blended Greek, Roman, and Christian cultures and controlled important trade routes between Asia and Europe. The Byzantine Empire had a major influence on Russia by spreading Orthodox Christianity and other cultural aspects like architecture and literature.

1. The Byzantine Empire
The Eastern Half of Rome

2. The Byzantine Empire
• Before Rome fell it was divided in half by
Diocletian.
• The Western half, Rome, collapsed in 467
CE
• The Eastern half, Byzantine Empire, lasted
until 1453!
• The Byzantine Empire preserved the
knowledge of Greece and Rome during the
Dark Ages, and spread Christianity to
Russia!

3. Geographic Setting
• The eastern half of the Rome after its split
in the late 200s
• Capital= Constantinople
• Centered on modern day Greece and
Turkey
• Bordered the Black and Mediterranean
Seas
• Controlled trade between Asia and Europe

6. Preserving and Spreading Culture
• Controlled key trade routes linking Asia
and Europe
• Blended Greece, Roman and Christian
cultures
• Preserved the knowledge of ancient
Greece and Rome

7. Justinian
Known as the “Law
Maker”

11. Achievements
• Justinian’s Code= preserved Roman laws,
basis for all European laws through 1100s
• Blended Greek, Roman and Middle
Eastern styles of Architecture (Hagia
Sophia), huge arching domes and tall
towers
• Used mosaics to create religious icons

13. Orthodox Christianity
• Didn’t recognize the authority of the
Roman Catholic Pope
• Believed Emperor was Jesus’s co-ruler on
Earth
• Allowed priests to marry
• Officially split with the Catholic Church
during the Great Schism of 1054
• Spread Christianity north into Kiev and
Russia

14. Decline and Fall
• Lost territory to Muslims in Africa and
Middle East and Catholics in Eastern
Europe
• 1453 Constantinople conquered by the
Ottoman Empire

17. Influence over Russia and Kiev
• Orthodox Christianity
• Cyrillic Alphabet
• Autocratic government (rulers called Czars
(Caesars))
• Copied Byzantine art, architecture, and
literary styles