The Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire
After taking notes you will be able to identify
and/or define the following terms:
Eastern Roman Empire
Orthodox Christianity
Byzantine Influence on Russia
The Byzantine Empire was formerly the
Eastern Roman Empire.
The Eastern Roman Empire
• The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D.
• However, the eastern portion of the empire
survived. It began the Byzantine Empire.
• The Byzantine Empire survived for one
thousand years after the fall of Rome.
Constantinople
• Capital of Byzantine Empire
• Located on Bosporus strait, between
Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea
• Now known as Istanbul
Constantinople
Trade
• The Byzantine Empire was located
between Europe and Asia.
• It was a natural location for trade goods
from around the known world.
• The Byzantine Empire became extremely
wealthy and powerful from trade.
Orthodox Christianity
• The Byzantines developed their own form
of Christianity, Eastern Orthodox
Christianity.
• Greek is the official language of the
Orthodox Christian Church, while Latin
was the language of the Roman Catholic
Church
• Orthodox Christians do not recognize the
Pope in Rome as their leader. Patriarchs
were bishops of the church, recognized
the Emperor as the leader.
In 1054 A.D., the Orthodox Christian
Church officially split from the Roman
Catholic Church in the Great Schism.
The Hagia Sophia was a Byzantine
Church and an architectural marvel with
its huge dome tops and spires.
(what modern countries could you find
these structures?)
Byzantine Influence on Russia
• The Byzantine Empire greatly influenced
Russia.
• Byzantine missionaries established
Orthodox Christian churches in Russia.
• Byzantine missionaries even created an
alphabet, the Cyrillic alphabet, to write the
Bible in Russian.
Do you see the Byzantine influence
in this Russian Orthodox Church?
Justinian
• Byzantine Emperors held absolute
power(also known as a what?).
• The Byzantine Emperor, Justinian,
collected all Roman written laws.
• The Code of Justinian is a collection of
Roman written law.
Empress Theodora
Empress Theodora was Justinian’s Wife
She was a strong willed and influential
person in Justinian’s life (she wore the
Pants in the family!)
Mosaics and Icons
• Mosaics – Creating images using small
pieces of broken glass.
• Icons – Religious images used to aid in
devotions.
• Some say worshiping icons was seen as
idol worship. Iconoclasts were sent to
many churches to destroy the icons.
Mosaics
Icons
Questions for Reflection:
• What became of the Eastern Roman
Empire with the fall of Rome in 476 A.D.?
• Why was the Byzantine Empire able to
prosper from trade?
• How did the Orthodox Christian Church
differ from the Roman Catholic Church?
• Who was Justinian and what did he do?
• What was the Hagia Sophia?