Ch2.

3: The Early Byzantine Empire

EQ’s:
1. How did the Byzantine Empire’s location, and the city of
Constantinople, influenced its culture?
2. Explain why did the church split into 2 and their major
differences.
 Remember!
• Rome was split into two pieces by Emperor Diocletian
• The western portion of Rome fell to invaders
• The eastern part survived and became known as the
Byzantine Empire
 Justinian I
• After Western Roman
Empire fell, Byzantine
Empire rose to great
heights
• In large part due to
powerful ruler named
Justinian I
• Justinian reigned (ruled)
from 527-565
The Rule of Justinian
• Expanded the Byzantine Empire
– Recaptured some of Rome’s lost land from
Germanic tribes
• Developed legal code known as the
Justinian Code
– used in Byzantine for 900 years
• Did many public works –
– Built many churches, palaces, and other
buildings
• Hagia Sophia – a famous church
 Stop!

Review Question:

What were some of Justinian’s main accomplishments?

 FYI: Theodora and Justinian
• Theodora was Justinian’s
wife
• Met when she was an actress
• An old Roman law forbid an
emperor to marry an actress
so Justinian got rid of the law
• Theodora had a lot of power
and influence in Justinian’s
decisions as ruler
• Wife of Emperor Justinian

• Raised in poverty and became

an actress

• Most powerful woman in

Byzantine history

• Met with foreign envoys

(Representatives) & leaders,
passed laws

• Protected women’s rights

 Rise of Constantinople

• Location of Constantinople played key role in

city’s growth
– located between Europe and southwest Asia
• Became center of trade and business
– merchants sold items from Asia, Africa, and all
over Europe

• Citizen’s enjoyed free entertainment in the

Hippodrome (city’s large arena)
The Hippodrome – City’s Large Arena
Stop!
Review Questions:

1. Why was
Constantinople able to
grow?

2. What were some of

the main attractions
of Constantinople?
 Influences From Others
• Byzantine Empire was greatly effected by different cultures
from East AND West
– goods and ideas from other countries throughout Asia, Africa, and
Europe were exchanged
• Byzantine was built on Roman foundations and ideas
but it also developed its own ways
 Byzantium = Constantinople = Istanbul

Western Europe

East – Gateway to Asia

and Middle East 

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 Stop!

Review Question:

What effect did the Byzantine

Empire’s location have on its
culture?
 Disagreements Split Christianity
• Christianity was the main religion in Byzantine
Empire and the West but it developed differently in
each place
• Differences led to split in Christian church
– Led to two distinct European civilizations
FYI: Remember: Christianity in the Empire
• Christianity began during the Roman Empire
• Constantine allowed it to flourish by stopping
all attacks on Christians.
• By the fall of Rome it was well established in
Europe and had a huge following
 Christian Structure
• In a church - Priests led small
groups of Christians
• Bishops supervised several
churches and priests
• Head bishop of all Rome was
known as the Pope
– Pope was head of entire
Christian Church
 Rome - Home of the Pope
• City of Rome (located in the former Western
Roman Empire) was home to the Pope and
the center of Christianity
 Clash of Popes and Emperors
• As Byzantine Empire grew emperors often did not get
along with the Pope
• Byzantine emperors (also known as the Head of State)
considered themselves the final authority on religious
issues
• The Pope insisted that they had the final say on
religious issues
FYI: Example of Debate Over Religious
Power:
• Byzantine emperor/Head of State, Leo III,
banned use of icons
• Icons = religious images used by Eastern
Christians to aid in prayer (Pictures, crosses,
etc)
• Emperor Leo III said use of icons was idol
worship (belief in false gods)
• Religious images used
by Christians for
devotion
• Thought to connect
believer to image in
the icon
• The Pope supported
icons but in the east
idol worship was
banned
 FYI: One Example of Debate Over Religious
Power: Pope’s Response
• The Pope disagreed and supported the use of
icons
• He excommunicated (removed from the
church) Emperor Leo III
 The Church Splits
• In 1054 differences lead to a
schism, or official split,
between the 2 groups
• Result = creation of 2 new
Christian religions:
– Roman Catholic Church
(Church of the West)
– Eastern Orthodox Church
(Church of the East)
 The Split
occurred in
1054

Split occurred in
the 16th century
 Stop!

Review Question:

Power between which two people

lead to a schism/split in the
Christian church?
 Who has Authority

• In Roman Catholicism
Pope claimed authority
over church AND kings and
emperors
• In Eastern Orthodoxy,
emperor (Head of State)
ruled over the patriarch
(leader of Eastern
Orthodox church)
 Stop!

Review Question:

How did the schism of 1054 affect the

Christian church?

Who has authority over the Eastern

Orthodox Church?
 FYI:Lesson Summary:
• After the Western Roman Empire fell, the
Byzantine Empire continued many Roman
ways
• Influenced by both Rome and the East, the
Byzantines developed a unique culture
• Disagreements within the Christian church
caused it to split into two separate churches
 Why It Matters Now…
• Today, millions of people still practice Roman
Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy
 Summary:
• Complete a 10 sentence minimum summary answering the
EQ’s with details!

• Remember to PROVE your summary answer supporting your

answers with facts!

• Remember the EQ’s were:

1. Describe how the Byzantine Empire’s location, including the city of

Constantinople, influenced its culture.

1. Describe why the church split into 2 and how the Eastern Orthodox
and Roman Catholic churches are different.