Bentley, Chapters 13 & 14
Byzantium
&
Islam
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople: Vital city of the empire, Bosporus
(strait that linked the Mediterranean and Black Seas),
Guarded on three sides by water (seen as protection),
Commanded key trade routes linking Europe and Asia,
Blending of Greek & Roman
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
A. Military Expansion: Justinian was determined to revive
geographic size of Ancient Rome, Belisarius (J’s general),
(534) Carthage was captured, king brought back as captive
(paraded through the Hippodrome), (540) conquered the
Ostrogoths’ capital of Ravenna (Italy), Ostrogoths launched
a counter attack for a dozen years & devastated the Italian
peninsula, Another army attacked the coasts of Spain
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
A. Military Expansion:
B. Building Projects: Hagia Sophia
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
A. Military Expansion:
B. Building Projects: Hagia Sophia
C. Justinian Code aka Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law) (529-534):
Compilation of all existing imperial pronouncements, Foundation of
civil law & Roman canon law (church law), Digest—collection of legal
writings that were collected as a book, Institutes—student’s legal
textbook, Justinian drafted most of the legislation relating to the
Church and religion, Emperor was absolute w/ unlimited legislative,
executive and judicial powers, Unified the state and religion (1st law
was that everybody had to be Christian), Treatment of Jews
(Determined the status of Jews t/o the empire for 100s of years, c/n
testify against Christians, c/n hold public office, Hebrew language in
worship c/n be used, Shema Yisrael (Jewish prayer) was banned, If a
Jew converted to Christianity, then he/she could inherit the father’s
estate (even if there were other children)), Justinian’s Code in the West
(Distributed in the west but not used, Only used after 554, in Italy)
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
A. Military Expansion:
B. Building Projects: Hagia Sophia
C. Justinian Code aka Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law) (529-534):
D. Theodora: J’s wife
E. Nika Revolt: Two groups in Hippodrome—Blues and Greens (Yankees &
Red Sox), Over time fought over politics & attacked each other resulting
in riots, 5 leaders were immediately executed, 2 waiting to be killed,
Jan. 13, 532 crowds demanded J. pardon leaders that had not been
killed yet, J. refused = riot, Battle b/w J’s troops & rioters , Fire broke
out (destroyed a huge part of C.), Rioters chose a new emperor, What
does J. do? Flee or stay?, Theodora “May I never be separated from
this purple…I approve a certain ancient saying that royalty is a good
burial-shroud." , J. was inspired to stay and fight (30,000 rioters were
massacred in the Hippodrome , “crowned” emperor was beheaded and
thrown into the sea, Hippodrome closed for several years)
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
A. Military Expansion:
B. Building Projects: Hagia Sophia
C. Justinian Code aka Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law)
(529-534):
D. Theodora: J’s wife
E. Nika Revolt:
F. Plague: Compare & contrast the economic and social
effects of the Byzantine plague in 541-542 C.E. to the
European plague in 1347 C.E..
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
III. The Great Schism (1054)
A. East: Church leadership—Emperor appoints the Patriarch,
reject the pope (caesaropapism) , Church was a department
of state, Spoke Greek, Clergy could marry, had beards,
Chief holy day was Easter, Used leavened bread (w/ yeast,
symbolized J. resurrecting)
B. West: Church leadership—pope, Church was an
independent institution (like a kingdom), Spoke Latin,
Clergy could not marry, had shaven faces , Chief holy day
was Christmas, Used unleavened bread (Jews d/n use yeast
during Passover)
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
III. The Great Schism (1054)
A. East:
B. West:
C. Icons: Emperor Leo III (r. 717-741 CE) Became
convinced that the veneration of icons was sinful, 726
CE policy of iconoclasm (the breaking of icons) , West—
icons were ok, resented emperor’s interference
(iconophile) , East—against icons until 800s, iconoclasts
until Empress Irene
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
III. The Great Schism (1054)
A.
East:
B. West:
C. Icons:
D. Great Schism (1054): Pope Leo IX (r. 1049-1054), Wanted to reform
the church (clerical celibacy, papal supremacy, lay investiture) , Invents
the College of Cardinals, 1053, decides to attack the Normans,
Defeated & imprisoned @ Battle of Civitate (18 June 1053), Normans
close Greek churches in West, Michael Cerularius, patriarch of C.
retaliates by closing the Latin churches in the East, Leo writes to
Michael in protest (March 1054 Leo was released), Michael disregards
Leo and refers to him as “brother” instead of “father” * Real issue was
about papal supremacy v. caesaropapism, Leo sends Cardinal Humbert
to C. to deal with the problem, 15 April 1054 Leo dies, Cardinal
Humbert is mad and excommunicates Michael (16 July 1054),
Excommunication—kicked out, c/n receive the sacraments
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
III. The Great Schism (1054)
A. East:
B. West:
C. Icons:
D. Great Schism (1054):
E. Consequences of GS: Clear separation b/w West (Roman Catholic
Church) & East (Eastern Orthodox Church), Involves churchmen,
has political consequences, Long-term damage (estrangement,
4th Crusade solidified it), Eastern Empire beginning of the end,
West Papacy has an increase in power, East Must recognize papal
authority for Western help, Lost their cultural superiority (no
longer the richest empire)
From “On a Trip in the Apostolic Footsteps of St. Paul.” History Today. (July 2001)
10.
“On a trip in the apostolic footsteps of St. Paul, the Pope
crossed confessional and religious boundaries and
apologized for past actions of the Roman church. He became
the first Roman pontiff to visit Greece since the Great Schism
of 1054, which divided Roman and Orthodox forms of
Christianity. Archbishop Christodoulous, leader of the Greek
Orthodox church, lambasted the Pope for a litany of Roman
‘misdeeds’, including the Great Schism and the sack of
Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. His
Roman counterpart expressed regret for the Crusader
destruction. Moving on to Syria, the Pope made history again
by entering the Umayyad mosque in Damascus. He took part
in a ‘joint invocation’ with the Grand Mufti, Syria’s most
revered holy man, before celebrating Mass in a ceremony
attended by Orthodox Christians.”
May 5th & 7th, 2001
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
III. The Great Schism (1054)
IV. Fourth Crusade (1204): Byzantine Throne (1195,
Emperor Isaac II was overthrown, blinded, imprisoned
by brother Alexius III, Isaac’s son escaped and ran to
Pope Innocent III, Innocent wanted another crusade
but d/n care about Byz. Throne, Advised to seek help
from Venice), Power of Venice (Traders & shipbuilders,
Had received numerous trading privileges from
Constantinople, Also gave the Doge & patriarch of
Venice money every year, Venetians could conduct
trade anywhere in Byz. w/o being charged taxes, Rich
& powerful),
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
III. The Great Schism (1054)
IV. Fourth Crusade (1204): Byzantine Throne, Power of Venice,
Bad Deals (Solve two issues w/ one group of soldiers,
Launch a new crusade and on the way, restore Alexius to
power, Venice would supply the ships for $85,000 (paid in 4
installments), When soldiers arrived in Venice only had
$10,000 (already in debt to the Doge), Must do favor for
Doge: 1st go to Zara and recapture it, Angered Innocent b/c
the Crusaders killed Christians and were working for the
Venetians (excommunicated all, but later revoked), Note:
still did not make enough money to pay the Venetians,
sooo…lets restore Alexius to the throne and he will pay us,
Victory against the usurper but no payment
“it certainly seemed the court of
a rich prince.”
“Remember we have raised you
from a very humble estate. We
have made you lord and crowned
you emperor…wretched boy, we
have raised you from the mire, and
we will throw you into the mire
again…”
Zara
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
III. The Great Schism (1054)
IV.Fourth Crusade (1204): Byzantine Throne, Power of
Venice, Bad Deals, Siege of C.,
“…They [the bishops] showed to the pilgrims that the
war was a righteous one; for the Greeks were
traitors and murderers, and also disloyal…they
would absolve all who attacked the Greeks…they
ought not to hesitate to attack the Greeks, for the
latter were enemies of God.”
“… all the booty that was taken should be brought
together and divided fairly…he whom they chose as
emperor should have one-quarter of all the
conquests both in the city and outside…the other
three-quarters should be divided into two parts,
one-half for the Venetians and one-half for the
crusaders…should be chosen to divide the fiefs and
the offices…”
Jan 1204, People were angered at Alexius & strangled
him
April 13, 1204 Sack of Constantinople
Chapter 13: Byzantium
I. Constantinople:
II. Age of Justinian (r. 527-565 BCE)
III. The Great Schism (1054)
IV. Fourth Crusade (1204): Byzantine Throne, Power of Venice,
Bad Deals, Siege of C., New Political System (Latin Empire,
Divided into three parts, New Emperor—Count Baldwin of
Flanders (German); 25% of territory, ¾ divided b/w Venetians
& Crusader knights , Constantinople—Emperor (5/8) &
Venetians (3/8), Venetians were independent of Emperor's
dictates , Head of Hagia Sophia--Thomas Morosini (Venetian,
first Latin Patriarch of Cons.), Papacy really mad at first but
then saw the advantages of the situation, Sent professors
and students east to learn and bring back, Wanted to Latinize
the East (marry Western noble women to Eastern nobles),
Restoration (1259, Byzantine Emperor was restored to the
throne (Michael VIII), Permanent resentment towards the
West & never healed until 2001)
Chapter 14: Islam
I. Rise of Islam: Muhammad (b. 570-632), Founder of
Islam, Grew up in poverty, became a servant, age 25
married Khadija (wealthy widow), 610 CE, Began to
receive messages from God, Resistance to
Muhammad (Wealthiest tribes opposed him b/c his
messages demanded the redistribution of wealth
(ends up appealing to poor), Tried to offer him
wealth & tried to pressure his family to stop him,
Muhammad refused to incorporate three gods of
Mecca’s religion & wealthy no longer would work
with him, When Muhammad’s uncle died, the
successor to the tribe would not protect
Muhammad & he decided to migrate w/ his
followers to Yathrib)
Chapter 14: Islam
I. Rise of Islam: Muhammad (b. 570-632), Resistance
to Muhammad, Yathrib (Also torn apart by clan
violence, By 618 full scale violence amongst clans,
622 ready for a new religion and end to the
violence, Muhammad renames Yathrib Medina
“City of the Prophet”, Hijra—Muhammad’s journey
from Mecca to Medina, 624, Muhammad defeated
a force of 900 men from Mecca (Battle of Badr),
630, Muhammad conquered Mecca), Religious &
Political leader (Made tribal alliances but other
tribes had to follow Islam, Problem: left no policy of
succession)
Chapter 14: Islam
I. Rise of Islam:
II. The Beliefs of Islam: Monotheistic—Allah,
Muhammad is the last and greatest prophet of
Allah (Abraham—first prophet, Jesus—prophet
before Muhammad, not the son of God, “People of
the Book”—Jews & Christians, tolerated but going
astray), Islam—means submission, Muslim—a
person that follows Islam, “one that submits”,
Quran—sacred text of Islam, revelations of
Muhammad, in Arabic, Concerned with ethics,
society, community, Five Pillars of Islam (5 basic
duties)
Chapter 14: Islam
I. Rise of Islam:
II. The Beliefs of Islam: Monotheistic, prophet Islam,
Muslim, Quran, Five Pillars of Islam (5 basic duties,
Shahadah—the confession of faith “There is no God
but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God”,
Salat—daily prayer, 5 times a day, facing Mecca, Sawm
Ramadan—fast during the month of Ramadan (from
dawn till dusk), Zakat—alms giving, Hajj—pilgrimage
to Mecca to the Ka’bah (sacred shrine of Islam in
Mecca)) Shari’a—Islamic law based off the Quran,
codified in 8th & 9th centuries (obligatory actions,
recommended actions, indifferent actions, repulsive
actions, forbidden actions )
Chapter 14: Islam
I.
Rise of Islam:
II. The Beliefs of Islam:
III. Spread of Islam: Abu Bakr (father-in-law/friend) succeeded
Muhammad (r. 632-634), Issue over succession, Sunnis—belief that
the successor could be a follower, Shiites—belief that the successor
should be a family member of Muhammad, Caliph—deputy of
Muhammad, ‘Umar (r.634-644) Territorial expansion—Persian
Empire, Syria, Egypt, Politics, Conquered peoples kept their
traditions, customs, religion, language, government , Only put in a
governor and a financial officer, Efficient system of taxation,
Established Muslim calendar—lunar calendar, first year was when
Muhammad emigrated to Medina, ‘Uthman (r. 644-656), Issue over
succession, Ali—son in law/cousin of Muhammad, very devout,
‘Uthman—part of the wealthy clan that had opposed Muhammad,
but great political and military leader , Opposition from original
followers of Muhammad, Conquered Libya & eastern portions of
Persian Empire, Formal writing of the Quran (no longer oral),
Mishandling of finances, 656, riot in Medina where they threw
stones at him, Killed him when word got out that soldiers were
going to come in, Ali (r. 656-661) assassinated & family killed
IV. Spread of Islam: Four Righteous Caliphs (632-661)
V.
Umayyad Dynasty (661-750)
A.
Developed a model for succession: reigning caliph would name his
successor and the notable would elect that named successor (becomes a
hereditary monarchy)
B.
Adopted Byzantine administrative and finanical systems
C.
Appointed a large number of Byzantine administrators and counselors
(who were Christian)
D.
Flowering of Islamic culture in art, architecture, and writing
E.
Internal peace
F.
710 CE, spread as far as the Indus River Valley in India
G. 736 CE, Battle of Tours: Charles Martel stopped their spread into France
H.
Building of the mosque at Damascus
I.
Birth of Islamic court culture
J.
After the rise of the Abassid Dynasty, the Umayyads developed a rival
state in Spain (756 CE)
VI. Abassid Dynasty (750-1258)
Chapter 13 & 14: Fall of Byzantium
I. 11th century beginning of decline: Bad rulers,
Border attacks (leads to the Crusades),
Independence movements w/I its territories
(Serbia and Bulgaria pull out in 1200), (1204)
Fourth Crusade and sack of Constantinople
II. Reasons for growth & strength of Turks
Chapter 13 & 14: Fall of Byzantium
I. 11th century beginning of decline:
II. Reasons for growth & strength of Turks: Devshirme
(Every 5 years, Christian boys b/w 8 & 18, were
conscripted from the countryside of Balkans and
Western coast of Anatolia, Families w/ only 1 male
child were exempt, made to convert to Islam, and
placed in positions in the army and the bureaucracy,
sent to be raised by Turkish landowners in Anatolia,
Considered a slave system, b/c they were bound to
the Sultan, but had all of the other rights of freedmen
, c/n marry or have children, Reactions: fear,
indifference, enthusiasm & horror, a great number of
these would be placed in the sultan’s Yeni Ceri ("New
Army") a.k.a. Janissaries)
Chapter 13 & 14: Fall of Byzantium
I. 11th century beginning of decline:
II. Reasons for growth & strength of Turks:
Devshirme; Janissaries (Elite corps, Composed of
war captives and Devshirmes, All converted to
Islam, strict discipline, By 1600, started to allow
Muslims to enter, Soon became hereditary while
drafting of Christians stopped *cause for their
downfall, 1826, Sultan Mahmud II massacred
them in their barracks b/c they had become
inefficient);
Chapter 13 & 14: Fall of Byzantium
I. 11th century beginning of decline:
II. Reasons for growth & strength of Turks:
Devshirme; Janissaries; Millet “community”
(Lands conquered by Turks, Christians allowed to
govern themselves, pay taxes, obey laws, Not out
to annihilate Catholicism); Disorganized Western
Response (danger not perceived until too late,
underestimated the organization & strength of
Turks)
III. Council of Ferrara-Florence (1437-39)
Chapter 13 & 14: Fall of Byzantium
I. 11th century beginning of decline:
II. Reasons for growth & strength of Turks:
III. Council of Ferrara-Florence (1437-39): Attempt to
unify churches, East really wants protection from
West against Turks, d/n unify & d/n get help, C.
starts to build a fleet and patch up walls
IV. The Fall
Chapter 13 & 14: Fall of Byzantium
I. 11th century beginning of decline:
II. Reasons for growth & strength of Turks:
III. Council of Ferrara-Florence (1437-39):
IV. The Fall: Constantine XI (r. 1448-1453, last
Byzantine Emperor), Mehmet II (Sultan, wants
Constantinople b/c Location, Buildings, Prestige,
Territory); Offers to C. the possibility of leaving
(Guarantee Safety, Territory, Title , Faith) but stays
and fights (honor)
Chapter 13 & 14: Fall of Byzantium
I. 11th century beginning of decline:
II. Reasons for growth & strength of Turks:
III. Council of Ferrara-Florence (1437-39):
IV. The Fall:
V. The Siege (1453): 2,500 Byz. Soldiers in city v.
150,000-250,000 Turks outside w/ cannons, MarchApril 1453, armies arrive at walls, April 02-18th 1st
bombardments, April 11th cannons, April 18th
janissaries against walls but called off, April 20th-29
Capture of the Golden Horn (blasted walls from
ships), April 30-May 27 War of attrition (constant
bombardment), May 18th siege towers set on fire,
May 23rd & 24th during procession of icon it falls (bad
omen), May 27th & 28th day of rest, last catholic
service in HS, May 29th Janasseries break through,
Sultan declares three days of sack and pillage
Chapter 13 & 14: Fall of Byzantium
I. 11th century beginning of decline:
II. Reasons for growth & strength of Turks:
III. Council of Ferrara-Florence (1437-39):
IV. The Fall:
V. The Siege (1453):
VI. The Legacy: Constantinople was renamed Istanbul,
converted to Islam, HS now a mosque; Russia became
the 3rd Rome (Becomes protector of orthodox
Christianity, Why? 988, Russian ruler (Vladimir)
converted , Ivan III marries the niece of Constantine
XI, Zoe, Cultural inheritor of Byzantium through Zoe,
Title Caesar becomes “Tsar”); Balkans were a mixture
of RC, EOO, Islam; Ottoman Empire began their
golden age
Chapter 13 & 14: Fall of Byzantium
I. 11th century beginning of decline:
II. Reasons for growth & strength of Turks:
III. Council of Ferrara-Florence (1437-39):
IV. The Fall:
V. The Siege (1453):
VI. The Legacy:
VII.Relationship b/w Byzantium & Slavs: