The Greatness of the
Byzantine Empire
Unit 5
Chapter 11
Lesson 2
Vocabulary
• Justinian I - Emperor of Byzantine Empire 527-565 CE
• Cathedral - Large important Christian church
• Hagia Sophia- Cathedral in Constantinople
• Constantinople -Capital of Byzantine Empire
• Theodora- Empress of Byzantine Empire
• Justinian Code- Set of Laws
• Icon- Religious picture of Jesus and saints
Constantinople
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Formerly Byzantium
named after Constantine
Capitol of Byzantine Empire
Hagia Sophia
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rebuilt by Emperor Justinian I after destroyed in riots
Hagia Sophia means Church of Holy Wisdom of God in Greek
Hagia = Holy
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Sophia = Wisdom
Located in Constantinople
Largest Cathedral in world for nearly 1,000 years
Painting
depicting
Construction of
Hagia Sophia
during reign of
Justinian
Hagia Sophia then
Hagia Sepia now
Hagia Sophia became an Islamic Mosque, today it is Museum
Interior of Hagia Sophia
by John Singer Sargent
1891 CE
All Byzantine
Cathedrals
were
decorated in
great detail
Jesus Mosaic,
one of many that have been
uncovered in modern times
527 CE Justinian I ascended to
the Byzantine throne
• Wanted to restore the Roman Empire
• Wanted to govern it as a whole
• Paid Persian Kings to stop threatening the far
western part of Asia –
• Far Eastern Part of Byzantine Empire
• Strong army conquered
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Many lands lost by Rome
Mediterranean Islands
N. Africa - Vandals
Italy - Ostrogoths
Spain - Visigoths
Coin commemorating Justinian's re-conquests of Africa, c. 535
The Byzantine Empire of Justinian’s Reign
Purple = size of Empire when Justinian came to power
Orange = lands conquered by Justinian
Theodora & Justinian
• Was a commoner
– A circus performer in the
Hippodrome
– Dad was a bear trainer
• Most trusted advisor
– Intelligent
– political wisdom
– Street smart
• Told Justinian to defend
city against attack in
532 C.E.
• Government jobs
based on ability not
social class
Justinian Code
• Wanted to organize laws
• Made empire operate
smoothly
• 10 men review 1,600 books of
Roman Law to create simpler
laws
• Men created Justinian Code
• 4,000 Laws in 4 books
• Many legal systems today
based on code
– One of the laws in Justinian
Code stated that a person
was innocent until proven
guilty
• Many laws reflect Theodora’s
view of treating women more
fairly
Mosaic of Justinian as law-giver from San Vitale of Ravenna Cathedral
Architecture
very
important
to show
power of
the Empire
New harbors
Aqueducts
Cisterns
Churches
Interior & Bell Tower
at St. Vitale Ravenna
Valens Aqueduct in
Constantinople
Byzantine Art
Pair of Jeweled bracelets
500-700CE
flask with the adoration of the
Magi 500-550CE
Portrait bust of Woman with a
scroll late 4th-early 5th Century
Two Panels
of an Ivory
Diptych
Announcing
the
Consulship
of Justinian,
521CE
Fragment of a Floor Mosaic with a Personification of Ktisis,
500–550
Strong Ties between
Church & Emperor Justinian I
• Byzantine Orthodox Church the
Official Church
• Church controlled political and
cultural life
• Justinian believed God chose him to
run the Empire
• Justinian built the Hagia Sophia to cement
relationship between Church and Emperor
Religious Icons
• Pictures or images of Jesus &
Saints
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2 dimensional
Appear flat
Face front
Large eyes
Reverse viewpoint
• From God’s Perspective not
viewer” Perspective
• God is looking out of picture at
viewer
– Used as a form of prayer
• Use of Icons helped lead to
schism between Byzantine
Orthodox and Roman
Catholic Church in1054
Mary and Jesus Icon
Naturalistic vs. Iconic Art
Syric Bible illumination depicting Job vs. Icon of St. Columba
End of the Empire
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Byzantine Empire lasted 500 years
1000 CE empire began to weaken
1054 CE Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox
Church Schism (split)