World History
Chapter 10
Built on remains of
Roman Empire
 Emperor Justinian led
the revival (and his
wife Theodora helped)
 He changed Byzantine
law to improve
women’s rights:

1.
2.
3.
4.
Man could not beat
wife
Could sue husband
Could own property
Widows could raise
children

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


Justinian appoints
Belisarius as commander
of the army
Belisarius gained many
territories in Med. Sea
After Justinian died, 50
years of civil war followed
Also invaders from Persia,
Asia, and Europe took
place
In the mid 600’s Muslims
invaded
Justinian’s territory was
reduced to Asia Minor,
Southern Balkan
peninsula, and part of Italy

Despite this, Byzantine
Empire still thrived for three
reasons:
1.
2.
3.
Political Strength: highly
centralized government; well
paid, loyal officials; arranged
marriages
Military Strength:
developed good infantry,
cavalry, and engineers; gave
soldiers land grants; created
military schools
Economic Strength: because
of trade, agriculture, and
manufacturing, the East was
the richest part of the
Empire; Constantinople = 1
mill pop = lots of jobs;
located on the Bosporus
Straits was the center of
trade

Byzantines faith believed that
rituals and doctrines of the faith
were unimportant

Believed in icons – small
religious pictures

Icons became outlawed but
none obeyed and heresy
developed (an opinion that
conflicts with church doctrine)

Pope excommunicates
(preventing certain people from
church membership and
functions)

In 1054, the church split with
Roman Catholics remaining in
the west and Greek Orthodox
taking over in the east (See
VIDEO on Orthodoxy in
Russia) 2:15
 In
the 1000’s, Seljuk
Turks captured most
of Asia Minor
 The Empire asked
for help from the
west but they
instead attacked
 In 1453, Ottoman
Turks captured
Constantinople –
the Empire fell

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Byzantine Empire had a
strong influence on the
Slavs
Kiev (capital of Rus from
882-1169) prospered
because of its location for
trade
Government: made up of a
prince with a council of
boyars (or nobles)
Vladimir I went religion
shopping and picked
Christianity
Kievan Rus’ developed
agriculture and trade
which led to social classes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Princess (top class)
Boyars (nobles)
Artisans and Merchants
Peasants (largest class)
Clergy (separate)
 Began
attacking
Kievan Rus in 1237
and ruled until the
1400s
 Taxed harshly
 Lead by Genghis
Khan
 Leadership became
weak over time
 Eventually lost
control of some
areas including
Moscow