Section 10
The Byzantine
World
Main Questions & Topics
How did Eastern Roman Empire
(Byzantine Empire) develop?
How did Christianity become dominant
religion in Eastern Roman Empire?
How was Byzantine Christianity built or
how did it grow?
How was the Byzantine Church different
than the Roman one?
Constantine Review
Background to Emperor
– Battle of Mulvian Bridge
– Constantine Cross
– Quickly acquainted with early Church leaders
Constantine as Emperor
– Sole Emperor of Rome
– New Capital – Byzantium (Constantinople)
– 313 CE Edict of Milan (toleration of ALL
religions)
– Hippodrome video
Constantine & Christian Struggles
Divisions within Christianity: regional,
doctrinal, devotional, cultural
Arian Heresy (see pg 236-237) – Is Jesus
God?
– threatened “schism” or division in church
Constantine just wanted them to “get
along” – keep “unity” in Empire
Called for ecumenical council (worldwide
council) of church leaders
323 CE - Council of Nicaea
Council of Nicaea
Arian question addressed – Jesus is God
Date of celebration of Paschal/Easter celebration set
Meletian Schism addressed (people re-entering church
after lapse in faith – how does church treat this?)
Constantine DID NOT decide on books of Christian
Bible – this is NOT historically accurate
Council of Trent decided on Catholic canon in
1546
Church of England decided on its canon (Thirtynine Articles) in 1563
Greek Orthodox church closed its canon in 1672
Union of Church & State
Council of Nicaea under Constantine
Theodosius (380 CE) –
Christianity the “Official
Religion” of Roman Empire
Caesaropapism (vesting of
all spiritual & political
authority in one person)
Four Eastern Churches
Constantinople
Antioch
Jerusalem
Alexandria
Each led by
a patriarch
Conflicts with Rome over their authority
If you are interested, the following are links to a YouTube video from the History
Channel – Engineering an Empire – The Byzantine Greeks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yymXqXabqls
Engineering an Empire – The Byzantine Greeks Part 1/5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg_qPhbGHxs&feature=related
Engineering an Empire – part 2/5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7zDYQBFv4E&feature=related
Engineering an Empire – part 3/5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW8zUDI27pU&feature=related
Engineering an Empire – part 4/5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coSr0L7K2zI&feature=related
Engineering an Empire – part 5/5
Constantinople
Major trading center
between east & west
City and port
called “The Golden
Horn” because of
immense wealth
Link to photos of Byzantine ruins in modern day Istanbul
(formerly Constantinople or Byzantium)
Basilica Cistern
Wall of Theodosius
Early Byzantium – Challenges & Survival
Julian (361-363 CE)
– Apostate – tried to revive Paganism
– His rule plagued by outside invaders – Persians
Justinian & Theodora (527-565 CE)
–
–
–
–
–
–
Caesaropapist (Coronation of Emperors)
Codified law
“One God, One Empire, One Religion”
Paganism Persecuted
Nika Revolt
Building programs initiated (bridges, roads,
underground reservoirs)
Justinian’s Attempt to
Reunite Roman Empire
Driven by religious beliefs – Rome had to
be part of his united empire
But divisions too deep to overcome
– Religious & political differences
– Cultural: different languages
– Western half = combo of Germanic & Roman
(Latin)
– Eastern half = Byzantine (Greek)
Failed attempts = war, drain on time,
money, resources
Crisis in 7th Century
Threats to Byzantine Empire
Bubonic Plague (Justinian’s Plague) –
began in 540 CE
Islamic invaders – 630 CE
Material losses
to empire as
result of wars
(see pg. 243
in textbook)
Eastern Christianity:
Culture & Conflict
Conflicts over best and appropriate ways to honor Christ, lead
Christian life, represent or worship Christ on earth, leadership of
Church
Early Christianity produced High Art/Architecture
Iconoclasm (image breaking) controversy
(pg. 244 in textbook)
1054 Great Schism in Church – divides East
and West Church
Link to Interesting Examples of Byzantine Art
Note that the art is full of Christian symbolism
Most of their art centered around the State
religion.
Byzantine Icons
Icons seen as
windows to heaven:
spiritual, rather than
material (similarity to
San rock art?)
Dispute in 7th & 8th
century Eastern
Church over validity
of icons: idolatry or
devotion?; false or
true faith?
Iconoclasm =
smashing of icons
Division of Church East v. West
East (Constantinople)
West (Rome)
Mystical – other wordly
Practical
Paralleled hierarchy of
government
Monasticism – imposed on
clergy
Could marry
NO marriage for monks, priests
Rejected Catholic doctrine of
Purgatory
Purgatory
Permitted Divorce
NO divorce
Vernacular language (people)
Latin language for liturgies
Relied on Bible and ecumenical
council to define
Looked to Church (Pope) to
define
Evolved as a community of
independent churches
Papal Authority (ONE church)
Eventually East and West excommunicated each other!
Formal division
of Eastern and
Western Churches
in 1054 – but had
been reality for
centuries
Story of God, Part 2 Video Link