Byzantine Empire
Constantine
(274 CE - 337 CE) Roman Emperor between 306 CE and 337 CE. He issued the Edict of Milan which outlawed the persecution of Christians. He also founded the city of Constantinople, the future capital of the Byzantine Empire.
Which events in the Byzantine Empire can you connect to the Dominio Effect?
- I can connect the Justinian Code and Justinians greed for expansion the led to the Nika Revolt. - Constantine seeing the cross and making Constantinople all Christian- 1/3 of population now is Christian -Because the Byzantine Empire fell the age of exploration and the renaissance wouldn't have taken place
Major things Justinian did
- Justinian Code - Reconquering lost Roman Land - Nika Revolt -Hagia Sophia
Emperor Leo III
A Byzantine emperor who banned the use of icons. This resulted in a strong resistance especially from the monks. This created a division between the popes and the Byzantine emperors that helped lead to the split of the church.
Eastern Orthodox
A branch of the split Christian Church in 1054 (Constantinople) created by the East in Byzantium - disapproved of Icons
Roman Catholic
A branch of the split Christian Church in 1054 (Constantinople) created by the West - approved of Icons
Primary Source
A document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study.
Ottoman Turks
A group of Islamics that began to threaten what remained of Byzantine territory by the mid-1300's. In 1361 the Ottomans took Adrianople, one of the empire's remaining large cities. The group that proved to be the greatest threat to the Byzantine Empire in the 15th century.
Atilla and the Huns
A group of barbarians led by Atila. When a earthquake hit Constantinople, Atila used it as his chance to go and invade the city. The Byzantines hurried to rebuild the wall and built three more walls for more defense. Soldiers were waiting along the walls to fight. To protect the harbors from sea threats they placed iron chains across the harbor so the ships that come could hit the chains and drown. The Huns didn't have any gun powder or canons so it was almost impossible to get through the wall. Attila and the Huns backed down and many others did as well .
Was Justinian a hero or a villain?
Although there are varied opinions, I think that Justinian was a villain. Despite the fact that he did many good things like expanding the empire and building the Hagia Sophia, he was also very evil. Theodora, Justinians wife, worked in the backgrounds making all of the important decisions. So all the great things he did was thanks to his wife. He killed everyone who was not a part of the orthodox without a second thought. Pompius wrote that he and his wife were "blood thirsty demons", he thought that they were meant to be killed and didn't see them as humans. Killing innocent people is not a heroic thing to do, plus all the thing he did was for his own pride.
Why did the capital change 3 times?
At first the name of the Capital Byzantium when it became a Greek trading town. After it was named New Roma when Constantine moved the capital of Rome, but it is most common referred as Constantinople after Constantines death. Lastly, after the Islamic group, Ottoman Turks, took over the Capital they renamed it to Istanbul.
Justinian
Byzantine emperor in the 6th century A.D. who reconquered much of the territory previously ruler by Rome, initiated an ambitious building program , including Hagia Sofia, as well as a new legal code (Justinian Code)
1453 AD/CE
Fall of the Byzantium Empire
Valens
He built the ancient worlds longest Aqueduct (400 miles). It was the only thing that brought enough water to all of Constantinople.
Procopius on Justinian
Historian of the Byzantine Empire who in his Secret History revealed the cruelty of the autocratic system in which the emperor ruled by divine providence.- Primary Source
Procopius
Historian of the Byzantine Empire who in his Secret History revealed the cruelty of the autocratic system of Justinian
Icon
Holy picture of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or the saints.
Was the Byzantine Empire its own empire or the continuation of the Roman Empire?
I think the Byzantine Empire was a continuation of the Roman Empire. First of all, Constantinople or "Byzantine Empire" would never exist if Constantine didn't move the capital of Rome. The pace was the capital of Rome which meant that it was part of Rome. The term " Byzantine Empire, would've been completely alien to the people living there. For them Byzantium was a continuation of Rome, which had merely moved its seat of power. Though largely speaking Greek, they called themselves "Romaioi", or Romans. They still stuck to some of the Roman Culture and games. It was only declared an empire when it fell, which means for a long period of time Byzantium was a continuation of Rome.
How did the Iconoclast Controversy and religious differences lead to the split in Christianity?
Icons were pictures-visual representation of the stories and other things that were written down. People in the West needed these because they were poor and uneducated, so they could not read. However, the people East thought that keeping icons in homes was the same thing as worshipping idols which went against the 2nd commandment. The people who were against the icons were called Iconoclasts. Emperor Leo lll orders all the icons to be destroyed but the people in the West were upset about it. This led to a big meeting of the all Bishops who decided that icons were ok. Anyone who went against the churches rule would not be able to be a member of the church. Finally in 1054, the two churches split. The Western Christian Catholic Church and the Eastern Christian Orthodox.
Secondary Source
Information gathered by someone who did not take part in or witness an event
Pendentives
It is a device that permits the placing of circular dome over a square room or an elliptical dome over a rectangular room.
Why was Constantinople a great capital city?
It was located on the trade routes between Asia and Europe and between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. It is also a peninsula which means it is surrounded by water on 3 sides- easy transportation
Hypatius
Nika Revolt - He went against Justinian and the people declared him new emperor. One of his closest advisors who turned against Justinian.
Belisarius
One of Justinian's most important military commanders. He was ordered to save everyone from the Anika Revolt. He and his soldiers slaughtered more than 30,000 people that day.
Nika Revolt
People revolted against Justinian. Some of the Blue and Green members were arrested for murder but the Bkue and Green team demanded that they escaped imprisonment all together. They lit fire on many in the buildings starting a riot. Many people joined forces with Hypasius and Pompius, the leaders. The people declared him as the new emperor. Justinian was about to free the chaos but bus wife Theodora stopped him. Justinian appointed Belisarius to stop the riot. 30,000 people died that day. Justinian also gained reputation and started the construction on many buildings like the Hagia Sophia.
Iconoclast
People who believed that having icons in church was the same was worshipping idols. They felt it was wrong.
330 AD/CE
Start of the Byzantium Empire
27 BC/BCE
Start of the Roman Empire
How did the Empire Fall?
The Byzantine Empire was attacked by a lot of different Barbaric tribes and the land kept on shrinking and expanding. The final straw cane when the Ottoman Turks came to take over Constantinople. Although the Empire still had the mighty walls, the Turks had cannons. These powerful weapons were strong enough to fight the walls. The Turks also started digging tunnels to get inside. Without a choice the Emperor let them in where many were slaughtered and te land was taken over.
Which Roman Building is similar to Hippodrome
The Circus Maximus
How did Justinian Code connect to the Nika Revolt and to the Hagia Sophia?
The Justinian Code was very strict and harsh, in the code everyone, the rich and poor, were to be treated equally. The wealthy felt that they shoulda not have to equal to the poor and follow rules. They wanted to do whatever they wished. Many people in the Empire were angry with Justinian for the Code. This led to the Nika Revolt as many people supported Hypasius and declared him the new emperor. The people destroyed the city, but because Justinian showed courage, and stopped the chaos he gained a lot of reputation. People started to like and him, and Justinian was determined to make the city better than it was before. He started to construction on the Hagia Sophia, which was one of the most magnificent building of the ancient world.
Mehmed II
The Ottoman Emperor in 1451. He made plans to takeover Constantinople. He wanted to have power over the Bosporus Strait so no one could come save the East. He used a cannon to breakdown the Theodosian Wall. He came in on attack in 3 different directions.
Justinian Code
The body of Roman civil law collected and organized by order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian around A.D. 534. Primary Source
Middle Ages (Dark Ages)
The gradual decline of the Roman Empire- a time when people in the West were suffering- barely surviving
Theodosius
The young emperor who was responsible for directing the building of the Theodosian Walls
Excommunication/Excommunicated
To ban someone from ever being a member of the church
476 AD/CE
Western Roman Empire ends- Fall of the Roman Empire
Schism
a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions
Hippodrome
a huge building in Constantinople and the site of the chariot races
Heresy/Heretic
belief contrary to the established opinion of the church
Iconoclastic Controversy
debate between opponents and defenders of icons in the Byzantine Church; one of the issues that led to the split of the Christian church in 1054
Hagia Sophia
the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople, built by order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian
Theodora
the wife of Justinian, she helped to improve the status of women in the Byzantinian Empire and encouraged her husband to stay in Constntinople and fight the Nike Revolt.
