Byzantine and Islamic Empires

The Byzantine & Islamic Empires

• In 476, the Western Roman Empire collapsed, but the Eastern Roman Empire continued for another thousand years, becoming known as the Byzantine Empire.
• The Byzantine civilization was a fusion of ancient Greek heritage and Near Eastern cultures, with a significant influence on Russia and southeastern Europe.
• The spread of Christ's kingdom continued in the East, mirroring the West, but faced similar spiritual challenges.
• During the seventh century, Islam emerged in Arabia. The followers of Islam were called muslims.
• Muslims built an empire from Spain to India, blending their customs with the cultures of conquered peoples.

The Byzantine Civilization

• In 330, Emperor Constantine dedicated "New Rome" as the Roman Empire's capital, though it was more commonly known as Constantinople, or "Constantine's City".
• Constantinople's location on a peninsula near the Bosporus Strait made it a vital link for land and sea trade between East and West.
• After Constantine, Roman emperors continued to live in Constantinople, which became the permanent capital of the Eastern Roman Empire when Theodosius divided it.
• Constantinople was recognized as one of the five major patriarchates of the Christian church.
• While the Eastern Roman Empire flourished with Constaninople as it's queen, the Western Roman Empire declined, facing barbarian threats.
• The Byzantine Empire was named after the ancient Greek city of Byzantium.
• Byzantine culture was more Greek and Asiatic than Roman or European.
• Byzantine culture endured when the West declined.

The Reign of Justinian

• The reign of Emperor Justinian (527-565) marked the first great period of Byzantine history.
• Justinian received support and counsel from his wife, Theodora.
• In 532, the Nika Revolt threatened Justinian's power, but Theodora's encouragement helped him retain control.
• Justinian crushed the revolt and firmly established himself as emperor.
• Justinian sought to restore the Roman Empire's greatness by recovering territories in the West that had been taken by barbarian tribes.
• Justinian's chief goal was restoring the greatness of the Roman Empire.
• Justinian's generals led campaigns in the Mediterranean, defeating the Vandals in North Africa, capturing Italy from the Ostrogoths, and penetrating the southern Visigoth kingdom in Spain.
• The Justinian Code, created by a commission of scholars, clarified Roman legal principles and preserved Roman law.
• The Justinian Code provided a foundation on which most modern European nations would build their political and legal systems.
• Justinian initiated extensive construction of churches, public buildings, aqueducts, and roads.
• The finest example of Byzantine architecture is the Church of Hagia Sophia, meaning "Holy Wisdom".
• Justinian sent missionaries from the Eastern Orthodox Church to other lands.

Justinian and Eastern Orthodoxy

• Justinian sent missionaries from the Eastern Orthodox Church to other lands, including Nubia.
• Justinian's successors faced challenges, including neglected eastern and northern borders due to western campaigns and a financially drained empire.

Eastern and Western Churches Separate

• Constantine founded "New Rome," establishing a new political and religious center.
• Constantinople became one of the five patriarchal cities, second only to Rome in prestige.
• The bishop of Rome became the most important religious leader in the West, while the patriarch of Constantinople held that position in the East and became the most important city after Rome.
• In the West, the church incorporated tradition alongside Scripture, baptismal regeneration, sacred works for salvation, and increased authority for church leaders.
• The Eastern church was strongly influenced by Greek and Oriental ideas, helping to create the Eastern Orthodox Church.
• The Byzantine emperor was the head of state and protector of the church, a relationship not found in the West.
• The church in the East became one of the most powerful institutions.
• East and West differed on: when to celebrate Easter, whether priests should marry, and if the church should use icons, which some thought to be idolatrous.
• Byzantine leaders resented the bishop of Rome's interference in religious affairs.
• The Western church believed to be more supreme, which eastern leaders resented.
• Tensions between the churches culminated in 1054 when the pope's representatives excommunicated the patriarch, who retaliated by excommunicating the pope.
• The Orthodox Church plays an active role in defending the Trinity and the person of Christ.
• The word orthodox comes from Greek meaning "straight (orthos) opinion (doxa)".

The Empire Under Siege

• The Byzantine Empire endured success and failure from the sixth to the fifteenth centuries.
• After Justinian's reign, the empire was besieged on almost every side for centuries.
• The Byzantines drove out foreign invaders including Lombards, Slavs, Bulgars, and Sassanids.
• In the seventh century, the Arab Muslims became a new threat.
• The city was known as the "city protected by God".
• Muslim force lost syria, palestine, Egypt, and North Africa.
• From 850-1050 the Byzantine Empire recovered, pushing back the Muslims.
• Basil II (976-1025), known as the "Bulgar Slayer," crushed the Bulgars and added their kingdoms to the empire during military success.
• The Byzantines revived trade along with commercial and cultural interests, attracting trade, art, and architecture.
• After two centuries of expansion, commercial rivals and the Seljuk Turks challenged the empire.
• The Seljuk Turks, originally from central Asia, adopted Arab culture and Islam.
• The Seljuk took over Asia Minor over the byzantine empire.
• Constantinople was aided by Greek fire.
• One reasons the greek fire was useful was the chemical properties which allowed it to burn even in water.

Falcon cannons

• Invading army breached Constantinople.
• In 1204, soldiers from the West destroyed the city, Venice’s commercial rival.
• In 1453, the Ottoman Turks blasted through Constantinople's walls with falcon cannons, ending the Byzantine Empire.

Byzantine Civilization Contributions

• The Byzantine Empire shielded the West from Islam, giving the West time to recover from the collapse of Rome.
• Ancient Greece and Rome’s heritage was preserved and transmitted to the West.
• The civilization declined from it's peak under justinian, by it's influence had expanded.
• The many achievements had attracted contact with less civilized peoples of the world, they became awed and tried to copy the governmental system that the Byzantines had adopted.
• Two missionaries, Cyril and Methodius, had written a slavic language which they taught to the slavic peoples.
• Craftsmen excelled in wall paintings, ivory carvings
• Byzantine art was intended to glorify god. The interior of churches housed some of the best examples of Byzantine art.
• Byzantine architects excelled in domed structures.
• The most famous Byzantine structure is Hagia Sophia.

The Meaning of Icons

• Eastern Orthodoxy used of icons, in a prominent place, they are viewed beyond the painting, but instead direct the mind beyond the icon to the heavenly reality it represents.
• Icon artist remained unchanged for many centuries.
• Icons have no shadows because the shadows imply something material and earthly
• The depiction shows historical scenes with building, outside the building to elevate the event.
• The figures are thin noses, small mouths, and large eyes.
• The red symbolizes love and blue and gold represent truth and heaven.

II. Early Russia

• Russia is the world's largest country.
• Russia occupies portions in Europe and Asia.
• The largest group is the Slavs.
• The West Slavs settled in the Danube region.
• The "South Slavs" moved down to the Balkan area.
• The East Slavs occupied the territory between the Baltic and Black Seas.
• The area was full of trade rivers and village communities.
• The Vikings settled along waterways.
• The Varangians settled the areas by opening trade routes.

Russia About 1000

• In the city of Novgorod in 862 the slavs account that they desired a Varangian rule.
• The year 862 is the traditional date for the beginning of Russian history.
• Rurik established the first dynasty of Russia.
• After Rurik Kiev became the center of the Russian state.
• Kiev was on the shores of the Dnieper.

Byzantine Cultural Influences

• Byzantine culture left an imprint on Russian culture.
• Kiev and Constaninople developed close cultural ties by early commercial contacts.
• Vladimir I adopted Eastern Orthodoxy by Vladimir I in 988.

Height of Kievan Russia

• Kiev became the city of Russian cites at the position of its city strength.
• The strength of its power was during the reign of Yaroslav "the wise".

Vladimir and the Orthodox Church

• According to legend the new religion for Vladimir was the best choice because when they had returned from Consantinople, they described the Hagia Sopia with such enthusiasm about the clouds of incense, ad gorgeous robes of the patriarch.

III. The Islamic Civilization

• Arabia is a large peninsula south of the Fertile Crescent.
• Arabia is bound by the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
• Some believe they descended by Ishmael and trace back to Abraham.
• There were two distinctive lifestyles - bedoiuns roaming in search of water and others in a more settled life along the outer rim of the peninsula.

The Founding of Islam

• Muhammad (570-632) claimed to be the last and greatest of the prophets of Allah.
• He was born to a poor family in Mecca.
• He entered business under Khadijah and married her after financial stability.
• At 40 Muhammad received a vision in which the angel Gabriel gave him a divine revelation to "Recite!".
• Muhammad began preaching that he was Allah’s prophet.
• People of mecca ridiculed him, viewing him as a threat to the citys commercial interests.

The Flight to Medina

• 622, Muhammad and his followers fled to Medina, known as the Hegira.
• Medinas followed Muhammad, grew rapidly.
• Muhammad becomes a persecutor and advanced, slaughtered any who opposed him, took force.
• The Kaaba was destroyed the idols but not the Black Stone.

The Teachings of Islam

• The heart of Muslim teachings is in the Qur'an. (Recitations)
• Made of 114 chapters known as suras.
• The central doctrine is one god- allah
• Reveres Muhammad as the prophet.

Islam and Murder

• Killing non-muslims in battle or following capture and surender was encouraged and told to strike off the heads by journal and conquerors

The teachings

• Teaching serves as a guide for Muslims like kindness, condmen idolatry, murder, gambling and drinking of wine
• The Qur'an reflects many ideas that Muhammad drew from Jewish and Christian resources.
• Claims in the bible were rejected.

The Five Pillars

• Muslim must perform certain religious duties in order to be hopeful for paradise, The five pillars of islam:
• Shahadah: : "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet." the thesis of Islam. and must be sincerely believed
• Salat: "prayers" prayer five times facing mecca.
• Zakat:"purification" , money that the devout are to give to the poor.
• Sawm: The sawm is a required fast sunrise sunset the sacred month of Ramadan
• Hajj: pilgrimage who is physically and financially able
• The Quran rejects the bible

Sunni vs. Shia Islam

• Initially, The the Muslims had disagreements with the people.
• Sunnis believed that since Muhammad did not appoint a successor, any worthy Muslim could be appointed
• Sunni caliph was a political leader who also served as an administrator and general
• Shia believed that only his son law can has authority over all matters

The Spread of Islam

• By 632 Muhammad had united much of Arabia under Islam which posed a problem for many because a successor wasnt appointed and wanted to the leader.
• Abu Bakr (632-34) was the first caliph.
• Caliphs ( spiritual and military leaders) directed the affairs of the empire of Islam
• The military conquered Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Irag, and Persia.
• The arabs wanted an escape of poverty because of the Arab tribes. Also there religious promise was there could be a war to secure entrance to paradise.

Umayyad Caliphate (661-750)

• moved the political capital empire from Medina to Damascus
• they created a hereditary dynasty
• the new force also pushed into India, Constantinope and accross North africa
• invaded parts of spain untul they reched the battle of tour
• although muslim advance to europe was stopped, they could boast empire from Spain to India.

Abassed Caliphate (750-ca. 1000)

• discontent over umayaad roe soon mounted over number of Non- Arabs and as high goverment
• The abassids marked the peak of the Muslim empire.
• Muslims controlled more territory that ancient roman.

The turks and crusades

• The arabs had been the primary agents in the eariler spread of Islam, also disputes over the Calinphate -Seljuk Turks entered the territory of the weakened abassids, also that there were destroyed churches and attack on Holy lands

Muslim Culture Contributions

• Arabs built the Muslim empire through conquest and added the rich cultural of past civilization
• the Muslims developed a prosperous civilization by trade to India China africa
• the Muslims gained the knowledge to translate books which might not have survived if it were for them.

Medicine

• In medicine the Muslims profited by doctors who put to practical skills and the Muslims developed surgical skills. The most famous physician were al- Razi and Ibn Sina.
• They perfromed delicate operations who removing cancer and the hospitals were as clean as posible

Literature

• The Muslims produced imagery both the poetry and pose.
• The renowned muslim poet was Khayyan.

Tales of Arabia

Thousand and One Nights is about a sultan who weds a new bride everyday and the beautiful maiden who changes everything with new tales

Mathematics

The Muslims from India, they were able to develop knowledge of geomerty and trigonometry.

Art and Architecture

• Religion plays an important part in Muslim art.
• Muhammad forbade the representation of men and animals in art.
• Common patterns found in Muslim art are abstract designs of stems and leaves.
• The arists were able to perform calligraphy which wrote verses and the muslims used miniatures to illustrate and illuminate their books.
• Architecture they would draw from Persia and best mosque
• The mosque included courtyard, minaret, dome.
• Also in the minarets the Muezzin or "crier" would call the prayer five times.