Byzantine Empire Overview

Byzantine Empire

• Constantine was the first emperor to legalize Christianity.
• Christianity became the official state religion after his lifetime.
• The doctrine of Christianity had to be redefined as it moved from the underground to public practice.
• The Holy Trinity Doctrine explains Christianity as monotheistic, despite believing in three parts.
• This doctrine states that the three parts of the Trinity existed and always have.
• In 325CE, Constantine convened a meeting to establish a unified Christian doctrine.
• This meeting included Aries, who debated the Holy Trinity doctrine.
• Aries was exiled from the empire for disagreeing with the official doctrine.
• Constantine's actions led to a separation of Christianity into two parts, 700 years later.

Justinian and Theodora

• Justinian was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople, who saw himself as God's representative on earth.
• Theodora, his wife, was a co-ruler.
• They had an interesting origin story as traveling performers.
• Theodora was a skilled performer, particularly in burlesque.
• Justinian questioned giving up Constantinople, but Theodora convinced him to hold onto it.
• They wanted to reclaim the Roman Empire, especially the Western regions.
• Emperor Justinian attempted various military conquests which spanned 30 years
• He was not entirely successful as his empire lost much of its land.

The Decline of the Byzantine Empire

• Food shortages and disease outbreaks were caused by issues with food imports and disease spread
• The Plague (disease) resulted in lower birth rates.
• The empire's decline was exacerbated by internal struggles and external threats (such as the rise of Islamic forces), leading to its slow decline towards the east.
• The empire became focused on the eastern regions.
• Volcanic eruptions affected the climate, causing significant disruptions.

Religious and Political Changes

• The Byzantine Empire's shift toward Greek and away from Latin influenced language and religious practices.
• Constantine's actions in defining Christian doctrine had implications for future emperors, establishing Caesaropapism -the doctrine that the emperor is head of the church-.
• Key terms associated with the doctrine of the empire being the head of the church include: Doctrine, Niceau, Caesaropapism, Caesar, Papism, and Papal Primacy.