Chapter 7
Kiev converts to Christianity
Byzantine empire sent missionaries to convert people of Kievan Rus to Orthodox Christianity Byzantines motivated by desire to spread religion and by worries that pagan Kievan Rus could present potential political threat to empire conversion succeeded in 989, when Kievan Rus ruler Prince Vladimir I ("the great") married the sister of the Byzantine emperor Vladimir agreed to convert to Orthodox Christianity and force his subjects as well with its new religion, Kievan Rus became increasingly linked to empire culturally and politically Byzantine advisors, priests, and teachers sent to Kiev 100s of wooden onion-dome churches built in style of Byzantine churches and monastic tradition came to Kievan Rus people in Keivan Rus accepted idea of imperial control of church though ruling elite in Kievan Rus converted, peasants maintained pagan traditions for centuries
religion
Byzantine was a theocracy, no separation between church and state religious leaders were essentially department of government emperor appointed head of church (patriarch) and sometimes even dictated what sermons should be delivered to local congregations many monasteries and other religious communities founded throughout empire during 300's and 400's monks and nuns lived in these centers of prayer and work - provided aid to people in times of natural disasters monasteries didn't become centers of scholarship and education, however as those in western Europe did most monks and nuns opposed iconoclasm; wanted to keep icons in churches and monasteries empire believed strongly in proselytizing, spreading their faith to others - sent Christian missionaries abroad in hopes of converting nonbelievers such as Bulgars and Moravians in central Europe
trade and prosperity
Byzantine's strong economy helped endure for almost 1000 years cause of Constantinople's location, trade flourished with Mediterranean region and northern Europe as well as with China and India via silk roads trade was so great that people around Mediterranean used Byzantine gold coins as common currency in addition, silk weaving developed as important industry in empire as early as 550 again adding fuel to Byzantium's economy government regulated this industry in order to prevent formation of business monopolies Byzantine economy also had strong agricultural component labor was provided by peasants, most of whom weren't free - couldn't leave land of their landowners cause of either laws that prohibited it or debts that they could not pay to their landlord from time to time, Byzantine government tried to break their bond governments theme system offered peasants their freedom if they agreed to join imperial military service also, emperors mandated limits as to how much land any 1 landlord could own
Basil II
Emperor who led the Byzantines to their last period of greatness; nicknamed "Basil the Bulgar Slayer" ruling from 976-1025, resumed successful expansion of empire started by Justinian started 4 centuries earlier in Balkans, forces defeated Bulgar's at Battle of Kleidion in 1014 also conquered some territory in eastern Asia minor
Byzantine government
Emperors were head of the government, center of the elaborate court rituals focusing upon their divinely inspired, all powerful nature Sophisticated and highly educated bureaucracy that was open to all classes highly centralized - vast imperial bureaucracy brought continuity to empire even during unrest and war periods although empire enjoyed comparatively long periods of peace, did experience instability, mostly caused by power struggles over succession to throne
Byzantine empire
Historians' name for the eastern portion of the Roman Empire from the fourth century onward, taken from 'Byzantion,' an early name for Constantinople, the Byzantine capital city. The empire fell to the Ottomans in 1453. by 527 CE, empire stretched over large swaths of lands bordering Mediterranean, including: north Africa, Spain, Italy, Greece and rest of Balkans and southwest Asia empire controlled city of Constantinople and surroundings as well as city of Rome as wealthy capital of expanding empire, Constantinople faced attacks from German invaders - is why, strong wide stone walls were built around Constantinople similar defenses strengthened in other Byzantine cities Byzantines fought repeated battles on eastern border with powerful Sassanid empire based in Persia - 2 empires fought for control of land in Asia minor and Syria
iconoclasm
Opposing or even destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration in the belief that such images represent idol worship. opposing veneration of religious images in icons
Novgorod
Rurik founded city; first important Russian city; modern day Estonia according to legend, Scandinavian Rurik founded northern Kievan Rus city Novgorod in 10th century over next 4 centuries, Germans, Finns, Swedes, and Slavs migrated there creating large, multicultural city of 400,000 people Novgorod prospered through trade, connecting Baltic sea and Black sea regions along Volga and Dneiper rivers trade products included: furs, honey, and tar from north; cloth and metals from farther west in Europe; and grains from farther east in Russia was 2 of many trading cities that grew between 800 and 1300 during this period, warming climate boosted agricultural productivity which resulted in mores surplus goods for trade became independent from Kievan Rus in 12th century however, like many cities in era, was eventually absorbed by growing empire in 15th century, newly organized Russian empire would seize control of Novgorod
Heraclius
This Emperor led the Byzantine army against the Persians and Slavs using an army of local peasants. unlike previous emperors, Heraclius (ruled 610-641) spoke Greek rather than Latin during his reign, attention of empire largely focused toward east and resisting numerous invasions from Islamic forces in the near East and Sassanid forces in Asia minor although he never attained complete victory over invaders, he did manage to greatly reduce power and influence of Sassanids in southwest Asia
decline of Kiev
This started when Yaroslav the Wise divided his realm equally among his sons instead of passing the throne on to the eldest creating conflicts among them. increasing dependence of Kievan Rus on Byzantine proved its undoing Kievan trade delegations found reaching Constantinople difficult cause of invasion of nomadic groups from central Asia, such as Pechenegs of steppes south of Kiev as Byzantium's economic fortunes declined, so did Kiev's in 1169 and 1204, northern Russian princes took advantage of Kiev's weakness by sacking city less than 40 years later, in 1240, Kiev was invaded by largest and most powerful group from central Asia, Mongols, who took over and stayed for almost 250 years during this period, so-called Khanate of Golden Horde occupied steppes and exacted tribute from those Russian princes living in forests to north Mongols weren't interested in occupying forests, preferring grassy steppes for their grazing herds of horses by time Mongols were finally defeated by Russian forces, Byzantine empire had fallen
Byzantine after Justinian
after Justinian's reign, borders of Byzantine contracted Bulgar's (Turkic people originally from central Asia) took over much of Balkans Germanic tribes reoccupied much of Italy Arab people took over Syria, Egypt, and rest of north Africa, spreading Islamic faith Islamic forces put Constantinople under siege twice, but Byzantines were able to hold them off in 800s and later, Byzantine able to expand again
the arts
arts, literature, and education flourished during Byzantine empire - nearly all religious in nature literature of the period focused on importance of seeking salvation by obeying god's will books and songs were written detailing lives of Jesus and Mary as well as large number of Christian saints fine artists were likewise focused on devotional work, such as icons and mosaics depicting Christian themes and illuminated manuscripts of Bible which were elaborately decorated with colored illustrations and flecked with silver and gold Byzantine art proved highly influential on later generations, both in Europe and in Islamic cultures
life in the city
city of Constantinople, wealthy from its position as trade center, became known for lavish homes of its aristocrats, its beautiful churches and impressive imperial palace like Rome, even common people went to public baths other gathering spots were restaurants, taverns, and Hippodrome - large stadium like Coliseum in Rome other large cities of empire: Antioch, Thessalonica and Trebizond had similar attractions but not had an imperial palace and none rivaled Constantinople in grandeur
Leo III
conflicts between byzantine empire and Islamic forces continued into next dynasty, known as Syrian, which took power in 717 first Syrian leader, Leo III (ruled 717-740) defeated and reclaimed much of near eastern territory lost by his predecessor and gained additional lands in Asia minor his greatest impact was on religion - instituted controversial policy of iconoclasm in this policy, might've been influenced by Islam, which had a strong tradition against realistic renderings of religious figures such as Jesus and prophet Muhammad Leo III ordered all images and paintings in churched be covered or destroyed opposition to his policy was strongest among monks in empire and was not accepted by popes
the golden age of Kievan Rus
during 10th and 11th centuries they enjoyed strong government and cohesive society 1st great ruler of this golden age was Vladimir I, who oversaw conversion of Kievan Rus to Christianity also exapanded western border of his kingdom 2nd great leader was son, Yaroslav 1 (ruled 1019-1054) - known as Yaroslav the Wise cause he promoted education and codified legal system, Russkaya Pravada ("Russian Justice")
the rise of Kievan Rus
east Slavs made contact with people of northern Europe known as Vikings around 800 Vikings expanded from their homeland in Scandinavia west into England, south into western Europe and east into Slavic territory moved south and east along river routes, including Europe's 4th longest river, extensive Dnieper river, flowing from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to Black sea by 900, Vikings ruled region around east Slavs Viking rulers called Rus (word that later became source of name Russia in early 900s, under Viking ruler Oleg, settlement of Dnieper river became Principality of Kiev, also called Kievan Rus Kievan Rus was collection of city-states - could govern themselves as long as they paid tribute to grand prince of Kiev grand prince was elected by council of boyars, or nobles boyars, who had to be Viking military leades also served as a war council since the boyars represented people they governed, they are also sometimes viewed as early democratic body
decline and fall
expenses of constant conflict on both its eastern and western borders, combined with reluctance of wealthy to pay taxes and unrest among common people, slowly undermined strength of Byzantine empire declining strength can be seen in a series of military defeats spread out over 4 centuries 1071, group originated in steppes of central Asia known as Seljuk Turks defeated Byzantine forces in Battle of Manzikert - after defeat, Turks gradually took more and more territory in Asia minor around same time, Byzantine forces clashed with new power in Mediterranean - Normans from northern France - took control of Sicily and southern Italy from Byzantines in 1071 another major setback for Byzantines came in early 1200s in 1095, Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked pope to call upon Roman Catholics in western Europe to help fight against Turks in region of middle east called Levant - area many Christians called "Holy Land" - result was series of military expeditions called Crusades, in which knights and commoners from western Europe traveled to Levant with hopes of seizing control for Christianity during 4th Crusade (1202-1204), soldiers from western Europe gathered in Italian city Venice to prepare to sail to Levant. However, Venetians persuaded, or possibly coerced, crusading European knights to sack their trading rivals in Constantinople first Byzantine empire continued to shrink by 15th century, remnant of empire was concentrated solely in Europe in 1453, Ottoman Turks, who replaced Seljuk Turks in western Asia minor, conquered Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire
free peasant revolts
free peasants were 1 step above peasants in economic hierarchy they were "free" in that they contracted with landowners and paid rent for land they worked were 1 of the main sources of taxes and recruits for government periodically, nobility tried to force free peasants into peasant status to increase their income or land holdings predictably, such tactics sparked revolts, including 1 led by Basil the Copper Hand (928-932) and 1 led by Ivaylo (1277-1280)
Slavic people and origins of Russia
historians know little bout earliest history of Slavs - originally populated steppes to northeast of Black sea by 500 BCE, 3 identifiable Slavic-language groups began to emerge: - east Slavic, which evolved into Ukrainian and Russian - west Slavic, which evolved into Poland, Slovak, and Czech - South Slavic, which evolved into Serbian, Croatian, and Slovenian at first, Slavs lived hunter-forager lifestyle dictated by environment in forested north, soil in area was fertile, but growing season was short - by contrast, steppes to south enjoyed longer growing season, but land was too tough to plow with existing technology
concentration of wealth
imperial efforts to create an agricultural economy with many small landowners were not successful land became concentrated in hands of fewer and fewer people, which led to increasing peasant revolts in addition, as landowners became more powerful, they were able to resist tax collections more easily than could small landowners - as result, tax income declined, weakening Byzantine government
education
likewise dominated by religion - schools run by eastern Orthodox church taught wide variety of subjects: philosophy, math, medicine, and all law - all with religious point of view university of Constantinople founded in 850; many of its students were trained for service in vast Byzantine bureaucracy, while others focused on copying classical writings from ancient Greece and Rome
missionary Cyril
most famous and successful named Cyril about 863, created his own alphabet, which was loosely based on Greek to help him spread the word of god and literacy in general Cyrillic alphabet adopted by Russians and people who spoke many of the Slavic languages - family of languages used in eastern Europe tradition of Christianity practiced in Byzantine empire, which later became known as eastern Orthodox tradition continues to be practiced in much of eastern Europe today, even though empire dissolved centuries ago
conflict with Rome
over time, tension increased between eastern wing of church in Byzantine empire and western wing, centered in Rome controversy over Leo III's iconoclasm policy was just 1 point of contention between 2 branches also disagreement over authority of Pope and over whether Rome was central city of Christendom tensions came to head in 1054 when a schism, or separation split Roman catholic church in western Europe and eastern Orthodox church in southeastern Europe and Russia
slave trade
ruler of Kievan Rus traded with Baghdad to southeast, Baltic ports to northwest, and mostly with Byzantine sold some honey, hides, fur and timber. however, it had more people than it could support easily, so it had little surplus of anything, except people each fall, princes demanded all towns and agricultural areas pay tribute by sending certain number of peasants to Kiev princes then organized expedition to Constantinople by boat, where they'd sell peasants as slaves - in return, Kievan princes received gold coins and other riches of Byzantine empire when princes were not satisfied with exchanges (as in 860, 907, and 1043) sent naval expeditions to raid Constantinople
Justinian the great
tried to reclaim the West, including North Africa, Spain, and Italy; most notably, Ravenna along wife empress Theodora, Emperor Justinian (ruled 527-565) oversaw revitalization of Constantinople most notably, Christian church called Hagia Sophia was expanded and its larges dome became focal point of city's architecture - according to legend, when a Russian visitor in 10th century saw spectacular church, he commented, "there God dwells among men" another of Justinian's significant contributions as revival of legal traditions of Rome - Justinian's collection of laws was called Corpus Iuris Civilis (body of civil law), although it's often referred to as Justinian code - code remained foundation of legal knowledge in Europe until 19th century under Justinian, Byzantine empire expanded its territory - in east, Byzantine forces under General Belisarius defeated Sassanids, established eastern border of empire - in west, Byzantine's conquered parts of North Africa, southern Spain, Sicily, and Italy - expansion was expensive - empire nearly bankrupt by Justinian's death in 565