Byzantine Empire Origins and History

Glossary

• Vandalize: Deliberately destroying or damaging property.
• Icon: A religious image used in worship.
• Excommunicate: Officially excluding someone from participation in church sacraments and services.
• Schism: A formal split or division in a religious community.
• Illuminated manuscript: A decorated, handwritten book, often with gold or silver.

The Origin and Rise of the Byzantine Empire

• The Byzantine Empire lasted over 1,000 years.
• At its peak, it was the wealthiest and most powerful empire.
• Religion was a major source of conflict.

The Origin of the Byzantine Empire

• Moving the capital to Constantinople strengthened the empire's eastern part while weakening the western part, contributing to Rome’s decline.

Major Events in the Empire’s History

• 330 AD: Constantine moved the Roman Empire's capital to Constantinople.
• 337 AD: Constantine's death resulted in political struggles over succession.
• 476 AD: The Western Roman Empire fell, but the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) survived.

Constantine’s Legacy

• Constantine ruled the Roman Empire from 306 to 337.
• He played a vital role in spreading Christianity by converting and promoting its teachings.
• Constantinople's location made it the economic, political, and cultural powerhouse of the Mediterranean after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

The Empire under Justinian I

• Justinian created the Code of Justinian establishing fundamental political rules and laws.
• Riots damaged Constantinople, but this destruction allowed Justinian to rebuild the city.
• Construction of Hagia Sophia began in 532 AD under Justinian's rule; it is considered the greatest Byzantine architectural achievement.
• By Justinian's death, the Byzantine Empire reached its greatest territorial extent.

Religion in Crisis

• Religion underwent radical changes challenging how society viewed religious icons.

The Iconoclastic Controversy

• Icons were images used during religious services and were valued for their meaning and spiritual power.
• Attacks by Muslim Arabs on the Byzantine Empire caused many people's faith to waver.
• Emperor Leo III believed the Arabs' aniconism contributed to their successes and opposed the use of Christian religious images.
• The conflict ended when Empress Theodora, wife of Emperor Theophilos, brought back the use of icons.

The Great Schism of 1054

• The Great Schism was caused by conflict over the word "filioque," meaning "from the son.”
• The pope lost all power in the East.
• The Eastern patriarch lost all power in the West.

Differences Between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches

• In the Roman Catholic Church, the pope has supreme authority against no central leader in the Eastern Orthodox Church; patriarch rules in partnership with a council of bishops.
• The Roman Catholic Church's language is Latin, while for the Eastern Orthodox Church is Greek
• Priests in the Roman Catholic Church cannot marry, while priests in the Eastern Orthodox Church can marry.
• The Roman Catholic Church believed that the Holy Spirit came from both the Father and the Son, whilst the Eastern Orthodox Church believed that the Holy Spirit came only from the Father.

The Fall of the Byzantine Empire

• The Byzantine Empire declined because of internal and external threats like wars and economic struggles.
• Western Europeans launched Crusades to liberate Jerusalem and Palestine from Muslim control.
• The Byzantine emperor believed that the crusaders would help defend Constantinople from the Muslims.
• During the Fourth Crusade of 1204, Western crusaders sacked Constantinople, looted its treasures, and destroyed many important Byzantine monuments.

The Ottomans Destroy the Empire

• A small Muslim group, the Ottoman Turks, began to rise in power in the 13th century.
• The Ottomans' capture of Constantinople led to the end of the Byzantine Empire.

The Byzantine Empire’s Legacy

• The Hagia Sophia remains an enduring example of Byzantine architecture.
• Byzantine icons, mosaics, and illuminated manuscripts are examples of Byzantine art and high culture.
• These manuscripts, called codices, were the first bound books which recorded classical ancient Greek and Roman knowledge that had been lost to the Western world.

Summary

• The Byzantine Empire continued Roman traditions by preserving Roman law (Justinian’s Code), architectural styles, and Christian religious structures.
• It created new traditions by developing Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Byzantine art (icons and mosaics), and a unique governance style centered around the emperor and patriarch.