The Byzantine Empire
World History
SOL WHI.7a,b,c,d,e
Essential Questions
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Why was Constantinople established
as the capital of the Eastern Roman
Empire?
What was the influence of Justinian’s
codification of Roman law on the
Byzantine Empire and later legal
codes?
What was Justinian’s influence on the
expansion of the Byzantine Empire and
its economy?
Essential Questions
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What were the contributions of
Byzantine art and architecture?
How did Greek and Roman culture
survive within the Byzantine Empire?
What factors produced the division
within the Christian church?
Why did the Byzantine Empire have so
much influence on religion, culture, and
trade in Russia and Eastern Europe?
Constantinople
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Constantinople was built by the Roman
emperor Constantine and finished in
330 ce.
When the Western Roman Empire was
overran by barbarians it became the
capital of the Eastern Roman Empire,
which became known as the Byzantine
Empire.
Map showing Western and Eastern Roman Empire
Constantinople
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This city was important for several
reasons:
It could easily protect the eastern frontiers
of the empire such as the Middle East and
Eastern Europe
It was farther away from the Germanic
invasions that destroyed the western
empire
It was located at a crossroads of trade
between the Black Sea and Mediterranean
and between Europe and Asia
Constantinople
5. It was an easily fortified site on a
peninsula with natural harbors.
Map showing barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire
Map that shows the location of Constantinople on an
easily fortified peninsula with natural harbors
Map showing barbarian migrations into Western and
Southern Europe.
Role of Constantinople
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Seat of the Byzantine Empire until the
Ottoman conquest
Preserved classical Greco Roman
culture
Preservation of Culture
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Byzantine Emperors saw themselves as
Roman Emperors. Latin was the official
language of the court until it was replaced by
Greek.
The knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome
was saved in libraries and studied by
scholars.
The culture of Greece and Rome, such as
chariot racing, architecture, and artistic
styles influenced Byzantine culture.
Justinian (The Good)
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Justinian ruled from 527 - 565.
He expanded the empire by adding
territories from the former Western Empire
that had been overrun by barbarians
He expanded trade
He ordered that the laws of ancient Rome
be collected, revised, and organized. The
result was Justinian’s Code.
He ordered that a massive Christian
Church, the Hagia Sophia, be built.
Justinian’s Code
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The law code of Justinian influenced
the laws of Western Europe. By 1100
the Catholic Church and medieval
monarchs modeled their laws after
Justinian’s Code.
The Code also guided legal thinkers
who began to put together international
law that is used today.
Map showing the territories added by Justinian. Most
of them were lost within 100 years after his death.
The Hagia Sophia was a Christian Church built by
the Emperor Justinian in Constantinople.
Justinian (The Bad)
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Justinian’s policies of expansion and
support of the Christian Church led to
several negative results.
He expanded the empire but he had to
raise taxes and the military expeditions
strained the army. After his death most of
the territory was lost.
He had to raise taxes again to build the
Hagia Sophia, which resulted in riots and
he was almost deposed.
Byzantine Art and Architecture
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Byzantine art was inspired by Christianity.
Most Byzantine art, such as icons, mosaics,
or statues focused on religious imagery and
incorporated elements of imperial power.
Icons are religious pictures that hang in
churches. Icons usually have pictures of
God, Jesus, or saints.
Byzantine artists also produced mosaics,
which are pictures made from colored tiles.
Mosaics decorated churches and public
places.
Byzantine icon of
Jesus Christ.
Byzantine mosaic of
Jesus Christ.
Byzantine mosaic showing Emperor Justinian and
clerics and soldiers.
Christianity
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After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
the Christian Church became divided over
several issues.
The Christian Church in the East (Orthodox
Christianity) was led by the Patriarch in
Constantinople who was under the authority
of the Emperor.
The Orthodox Church used Greek in the
liturgy and allowed priests to marry.
The Orthodox Church used icons.
Christianity
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The church in the west was headed by the
Pope who was elected for life and did not
answer to an emperor.
The Catholic Church enforced celibacy for
priests.
The Catholic Church used Latin in the liturgy
even after it ceased to be a language
spoken by most people.
The churches also argued over issues such
as the nature of the Trinity and communion.
Eastern Europe and Russia
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The Byzantines heavily influenced Eastern
Europe and Russia.
Monks and priests spread Orthodox
Christianity into Eastern Europe.
Small kingdoms in Eastern Europe and
Russia emulated Byzantium by adopting
their styles of church architecture and
using icons.
A monk, St. Cyril, made an alphabet for
Slavic languages based on the Greek
alphabet.
Map showing the
routes taken by
the Vikings. Notice
how the Swedes
traveled from the
Baltic to the Black
Seas through rivers
in Russia. They
eventually had contact
and traded with the
Byzantines. Trade
further spread
Byzantine culture to
Russia.