The Empire Strikes Back

​The Empire Strikes East

​Learning Targets

• I can describe the relationship between the Roman and Byzantine Empires, including the importance of Justinian and Theodora

• I can explain the Great Schism of 1054

• I can explain the decline of Byzantium and the impact of the fall of Constantinople in 1453

Recap

• Who was the genius who decided to split the Roman empire in half?

• Who was the emperor who legalized Christianity in 313?

Byzantine Empire
(before the Fall of Rome)

• Capital was Byzantium

• Constantine became emperor of the East in 312 and actually reunified the entire empire, but focused too much on the east that it weakened the west

• Constantine changed the name of the capital to Constantinople

• Many Roman traditions survived in the Byzantine empire including the senate after the fall of Western Roman Empire

Justinian and the Byzantine Empire

• Justinian came to power in 527

• He wanted to the Byzantine Empire the 2nd Roman Empire

• He was successful in reclaiming much of the original Roman Empire territory

• Justinian's Code - lasted for 900 years!

• Built city wall, public baths, schools, courts, churches, etc...

• Hagia Sophia

Theodora and the Byzantine Empire

• Laws had to be changed in order for her to marry Justinian

• She really was his partner as empress and did a lot for the empire

• Accomplishments: foreign envoys, churches, laws, and Nika Riots of 532

• She is credited with convincing Justinian to stay and fight adding much more success to the empire

The Hagia Sophia
532-537

The Changing Capital

• Byzantium - Polytheism

• Constantinople - Christian

• Istanbul - Muslim/Islam

The Great Schism of 1054

1. EAST

2. Emperor Leo III banned icons

3. Emperor held authority over the Church

4. Emperor said "no"

5. Byzantine Emperors not happy that Pope overstepped his authority

6. Wanted leavened bread for communion

7. Patriarch aka the Emperor created their own church separate from the Rome

8. Greek Orthodox Church

1. WEST

2. Pope Gregory II allowed icons

3. Pope held authority over the Church

4. 751 Rome invaded, Pope asked for help

5. Franks helped the Pope, so Pope Leo III named Charlemagne the Holy Roman Emperor

6. Wanted unleavened bread for communion

7. Leo IX excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople

8. Roman Catholic Church

Fall of the Byzantine Empire

• Decline began in the 6th century when the bubonic plague hit the empire

• Muslim Turks began growing territory in the 7th century, and in 1204 Constantinople was heavily weakened in the 4th Crusade

• Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire could not recover

• Constantinople officially fell to the Muslim Turks in 1453

• The Byzantine Empire had lasted just over 1,000 years (Rome only lasted 500 years)

• The capital of Constantinople was renamed Istanbul by the Muslims, which remains today