World History Chapter 12
The Byzantine Empire and Russia
(Slavs)
Section 1 The Byzantine Empire
• Describe how Justinian extended his power in the
Byzantine Empire.
• Explain the key elements of the Byzantine Empire.
• Describe how the Byzantine empire collapsed
• Understand the heritage of the Byzantine empire.
Background of Byzantine Empire
• German invaders pounded the Roman empire in the
west, emperors shifted their base to the East.
• The Emperor Constantine rebuilt the Greek city of
Byzantium and gave it the name Constantinople.
• In 330 Constantine made Constantinople the
new capital of the Eastern Roman Empire
• In time, the Eastern Roman Empire became known
as the Byzantine Empire.
Constantinople
• Capital City of New Roman Empire of
Byzantine Empire
• Linked trade routes of Europe and Asia
• Busiest marketplace.
• Blended Greek, Roman, and Christian
influences.
• Lasted 1000 years after fall of Western
Roman Empire.
Spread of Christianity
• By 300AD, Christians formed religious
communities called monasteries.
• Monks – men devoted to the Church.
• Nuns – women devoted to the Church.
• Monasteries and Convents helped the poor, ran
hospitals, and schools.
• missionaries – people sent to convert people to
Christianity.
The Age of Justinian #99
• Ruler of Byzantine Empire 527-565
• Conquered N. Africa, Italy and S. Spain –
lands conquered were temporary
• Built a large elaborate church called Hagia
Sophia (“Holy Wisdom”) – influential
architecture.
Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s Code
• Best remembered for his reform of the law.
• Code of Laws – Justinian’s Code –Corpus
Juris Civilis
• By 1100s his code reached W. Europe.
Influenced both Roman Catholic and
Monarchs.
• Wife – Theodora – advisor to Justinian
• Autocrat – sole ruler with complete authority.
• Ruled at the height of Byzantine power.
Justinian #99
Disagreement in the Christian Church
• Eastern Empire – rejected pope, clergy could
marry, Greek was major language, Easter was
holy day.
• Western Empire – pope had authority, clergy
could not marry, Latin was major language,
Christmas was holy day.
Two Churches Created
• The major dispute was over the use of icons –
or holy images
• In 726 A.D. Pope Leo III ordered all icons
removed from churches. (last straw)
• This creates a Schism – split, between the East
and West.
• Created two major Christian churches
– Roman Catholic (west)
– Eastern Orthodox (east)
Crisis and Collapse
• For the next thousand years the Turks (Islam),
began to take over parts of the Byzantine Empire.
• Crusades failed to stop the takeover by Islam.
• Constantinople falls
– 1453 Ottoman Turks conquered
Constantinople.
– The ancient Christian city was renamed
Istanbul and became the capital of the Ottoman
Empire (Muslim)
The Byzantine Heritage
• The Arts
– Influenced Western Europe in Religious Art
and Architecture.
– Icons and Mosaics
• The World of Learning
– Preserved classic works of Ancient Greece
– Preserved Greek and Roman Culture and took
findings to Universities.
– Contributed to Renaissance
Section 2 The Rise of Russia
• Describe how the geography of Russia helped the
growth of Kiev.
• Explain how the Mongol’s conquest affected Russia.
• Describe how Moscow emerged as the chief power
in Russia.
Geography of Russia
• Large plains
• Three broad zones
– Northern forests
– Fertile south land
– Southern steppe
• Steppe – open, treeless grassland
• Network of rivers provided easy transportation
Growth of Kiev
• During Roman Times, the Slavs expanded into
Southern Russia.
• They organized into clans with a simple
political system.
• Vikings began trading with Slavs in Russia.
City of Kiev.
• In time Kiev would become the center of the
first Russian Government.
The Vikings
came to be
the most
feared
raiders of
their time
Byzantine Influences
• Byzantine Christianity, art, music, and
architecture spread throughout Russia
• Byzantine Christians sent missionaries to
convert Russian slavs.
• Vladimir was Russian prince of Kiev that
converted Russians to Eastern Orthodox
Church. (Christians)
Kiev
Church –
Compare
to Hagia
Sophia
Yaroslav the wise and the decline of Kiev
• Yaroslav ruled Russia during its golden age
from 1019-1054.
• Created Kiev’s first law code and library
• Kiev declined in 1100 as rival families battled
for the throne.
• As Russian princes fought among themselves,
Mongol armies from central Asia struck the
final blow.
Yaroslav
The Mongols
• The Mongols defeated most of Russia by 1300.
• They killed thousands and sought to tax the people
they conquered, rather than impose their culture.
• Slavs could still practice Christianity, but had to
serve the Mongol ruler and in the Mongol army.
• The main reason the Mongols conquered so much
territory is because of one man….Genghis Kahn.
Genghis Khan #29
• In the early 1200s, a young leader united the
nomadic Mongols of Central Asia.
• As his mounted bowmen overran lands from
China to Eastern Europe, he took the title
Genghis Khan or “World Emperor”
• Between 1236 and 1241, Batu, the grandson of
Genghis, led Mongol armies into Russia
known as the Golden Horde.
The Golden Horde
• Mongol Armies were called the Golden Horde
for the color of their tents.
• Genghis Kahn founded the Mongol Empire
across much of Asia and Europe
• Created the largest land empire.
• They looted and burned Kiev and other
Russian towns.
• Although Mongols were fierce fighters they
were tolerant rulers as long as taxes were paid
Growth
of
Russia,
13301584
Genghis Kahn
Mongol Influences
• Even though the Mongols were Islam they
tolerated the Orthodox Church which grew
strong during this period.
• Mongols looked down upon women.
• Husbands could sell their wives.
• The absolute power of Mongols served as a
model for later Russian rulers.
• Mongol rule cut Russia off from W. Europe,
which made many advances in arts and sciences.
Moscow becomes Capital
• After the fall of Kiev, the city life began to decline
in the south.
• Moscow became the capital of Russia after the fall
of Kiev.
• Became the political and spiritual center of Russia
• Eventually Princes of Moscow rallied other leaders
to defeat the Golden Horde at the battle of Kulikovo
(1380) – Slavs steadily began to drive out Mongols.
• Finally during the reign of Ivan III the Mongol rule
had come to an end.
Moscow
Ivan the Great (III)
• Much of the success of Moscow is b/c of Ivan III.
• He brought many Slavic provinces under his
control.
• Absolute rule - limited power of boyars –
landowning nobles
• Ivan the Great took the title czar – Russian word
for Caesar.
• He married princess Sophia, (Byzantine princess)
• Ivan the Great helped to blend Byzantine and
Russian Culture
Ivan the Great
Ivan the Great
Square - Moscow
Ivan the Terrible (IV) #5 Evil Book
• Grandson of Ivan the Great.
• Known for cruelty toward animals and
humans.
• 1560 became unstable – fits of violence.
• Created oprichniki – agents who enforced
czar’s will. – dressed in black they killed
nobles and sacked towns where people were
disloyal to Ivan IV
• After his death in 1584, Russia was full of
rebellion and chaos
Ivan the
Terrible
Section 3 Shaping Eastern Europe
Geography of E. Europe
•
•
•
•
Area between Germany and Russia
Most were plains
Rivers ran north to Baltic or South to Black Sea
South identified with Byzantine and later Muslims
of Turkey.
• North identified with W. Europe.
Diverse Mix of Peoples
• The Balkans
– Slavic people.
– Ethnic group – large group of people who share the same
language and cultural heritage.
– Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Islam all were spread
throughout Balkans
• Jewish Settlements
– W. Europe persecuted Jews who fled east and settled
– E. Europe tolerated Jews (would cause problems later)
Jewish Migrations
Early Kingdoms
• Poland
– Roman Catholic
– Weak central government, strong nobles, met in a diet –
or assembly
• Hungary
– Roman Catholic
– Golden Bull of 1222 – document limiting royal power
– Mongols killed ½ population, then left, Turks took over.
• Serbia
– Orthodox and modeled culture of Byzantine.
– Battle of Kosovo in 1389, Turks ended independence