Byzantine Empire 330-1453

Byzantine Empire 330-1453

• Content Objective – Explain the importance of the Justinian Code

• Language Objective – After reading several examples of Justinian’s Code, you will
summarize its importance.
 Activating Prior Knowledge…

What was the immediate cause for the fall of the

Western Roman Empire?
• 330 AD Emperor Constantine moved capital of
Roman Empire to Byzantium (Ancient Greek City)

• Renamed capital Constantinople

• Western half of Roman Empire fell

Rome Splits
Eastern Rome Survives

As the Byzantine Empire

 Byzantine Empire

Location, Location, Location.

What was the capital of the
Byzantine Empire?
Capital = Constantinople

Located on the Bosporus Strait

What two cultures did
Constantinople serve?
 Byzantine Empire

Served as a center for Greek and

Roman Culture.
What was the common language of
the Byzantine Empire?
Society
• Upheld many Roman traditions

• Diverse - Greek , Roman, and Middle Eastern

cultures

• Common language = Greek

• Religion = Eastern Orthodox

Tradition of Emperor lives on!
Justinian the Great
Why is Emperor Justinian
considered great?
Emperor Justinian (527-565)
1. Rebuilds Constantinople

2. Reconquers most of Roman Empire

3. Simplified Roman Law

What is the Hagia Sophia?
Emperor Justinian

Rebuilds Constantinople
Constructs Hagia Sofia (Holy Wisdom) in Constantinople
- Christian Cathedral
hagia sophia mosaics
hagia Sophia Today
Justinian reconquers most
of Roman Empire
Why was Justinian's Code important?
 Emperor Justinian
Justinian’s (Law) Code

Updated laws

Influences future
laws in Europe
Code of Justinian
 Byzantine Empire 330-1453

• Content Objective – Explain the characteristics of Roman Catholicism and Eastern

Orthodoxy.

• Language Objective – Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the

Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
The Great Schism
(East West Church Split)
Main cause of the Schism that
divided the Christian religion
The debate over the role of the
Pope (head of Catholic Church)
and the use of icons
 Accomplishments
• Renowned for silks, painted icons, and mosaics
(pictures made with pieces of cut stone and glass),

• Preserves Greek philosophy and science

• Roman Engineering

• Hagia Sophia
• Constantinople’s cathedral

• Giant dome and tall spires

 Decline of the Byzantine Empire
• Constant battle with Slavs, Avars, Persians, and
Muslims.

• 7th century – Muslims seize most land

• 11th Century – Seljuk Turks take more land

• 1204 Crusaders attack city

• 1453 conquered by Ottoman Turks