The Byzantine Commonwealth

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

Byzantium/Constantinople Roman infrastructure in place – Roads, institutional hierarchies Challenges from strong Persian empire (Sassanid dynasty, CE) Invasions of Germanic peoples

Fall of The Roman Empire... in the 15th Century Crash Course World History #12

Caesaropapism Power centralized in figure of Emperor Christian leader cannot claim divinity, rather divine authority Political rule Involved in Religious rule as well Authority absolute

The Byzantine Court Etiquette reinforces authority of Emperor – Royal purple – Prostration – Mechanical devices designed to inspire awe

Justinian ( CE) The sleepless emperor Wife Theodora as advisor – Background: circus performer Uses army to contain tax riots, ambitious construction program – Hagia Sophia Law Code definitive for centuries

The Byzantine & neighbors C.E. 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 Besieged Byzantium , Defense made possible through use of greek fire

Imperial Organization Themes (provinces) under control of generals Military administration Control from central imperial government Soldiers from peasant class, rewarded with land grants

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

Byzantine Economy and Society Constantinople largest city in Europe, 5 th -13 th c. Dependent on small landholders, free peasants Earlier large landholdings destroyed by invasions in 6 th -7 th centuries Theme system rewards soldiers with land grants Trade routes bring key technologies, e.g. silk industry Advantage of location causes crafts and industry to expand after 6 th century Tax revenues from silk route Banking services develop Aristocrats: palaces; artisans: apartments; working poor: communal living spaces Hippodrome Chariot races, greens vs. blues Politically inspired rioting

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

Orthodox Christianity Legacy of Classical Greece – Greek replaces Latin after 6 th c. CE; language of New Testament Byzantine education sponsors development of large literate class for state bureaucracy – Training in classical canon

The Byzantine Church Church and state closely aligned Council of Nicea (325) bans Arian movement – Human/divine nature of Jesus – Constantine favors Arians, but supports Nicean condemnation Byzantine Emperors appoint Patriarchs Caesaropapism creates dissent in church

Iconoclasm Emperor Leo III (r CE) Destruction of icons after 726 Popular protest, rioting Policy abandoned 843

Greek Philosophy and Byzantine Theology Attempt to reconcile Greek philosophy with Judeo-Christianity Constantine establishes school to apply philosophical methods to religious questions

Ascetism Hermit-like existence Celibacy Fasting Prayer St. Simeon Stylite – Lived atop pillar for years

Byzantine Monasticism and St. Basil ( CE) Patriarch of Constantinople reforms monasteries Communal living Hierarchical structure Mt. Athos No women, female animals allowed

Tensions between Eastern and Western Christianity Ritual disputes – Beards on clergy – Leavened bread for Mass Theological disputes – Iconoclasm – Nature of the Trinity

Schism Arguments over hierarchy, jurisdiction Autonomy of Patriarchs, or Primacy of Rome? 1054 Patriarch of Constantinople and Pope of Rome excommunicate each other – East: Orthodox Church – West: Roman Catholic

Social Problems in the Byzantine Empire Generals of themes become allied with local aristocrats – Intermarry, create class of elite Occasional rebellions vs. Imperial Rule

The Byzantine empire and its neighbors about 1100 C.E. Western European economic development Normans from Scandinavia press on Byzantine territories Crusades of 12 th -13 th centuries rampage through Byzantine territory Constantinople sacked, 1204 Muslim Saljuqs invade Anatolia Threatens grain supply Defeat Byzantine army in 1071, creates civil conflict Period of steady decline until Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople in 1453 Renamed Istanbul

Andrew Marrs History of the World: Episode 4 Orthodoxy Spreads to Kiev 7:31-10:15

Influence on Slavic Cultures Relations from 6 th c. CE Bulgaria influenced culturally, politically Saints Cyril and Methodius – Create Cyrillic alphabet Slavic lands develop orientation to Byzantium

Kievan Rus Conversion of Prince Vladimir, 989 Byzantine culture influences development of Slavic cultures Distinctively Slavic Orthodox church develops Eventual heir to Byzantium

Orthodox Adherents Today