The Byzantine Empire
The capital of the Eastern Roman Empire was changed to Constantinople to provide political, economic, and military advantages.
Location of Constantinople
· Protection of the eastern frontier
· Distance from Germanic invasions in the western empire
· Crossroads of trade
· Easily fortified site on a peninsula bordered by natural harbors
Role of Constantinople
· Seat of the Byzantine Empire until Ottoman conquest
· Preserved classical Greco-Roman culture
Center of trade
Location of Constantinople
· Protection of the eastern frontier
· Distance from Germanic invasions in the western empire
· Crossroads of trade
· Easily fortified site on a peninsula bordered by natural harbors
Role of Constantinople
· Seat of the Byzantine Empire until Ottoman conquest
· Preserved classical Greco-Roman culture
Center of trade
Justinian
As the first to codify Roman law, Justinian provided the basis for the law codes of Western Europe.
Under Justinian, the Byzantine Empire reached its height in culture and prosperity.
Byzantine Emperor Justinian
· Codification of Roman law (impact on European legal codes)
· Reconquest of former Roman territories
Expansion of trade
Under Justinian, the Byzantine Empire reached its height in culture and prosperity.
Byzantine Emperor Justinian
· Codification of Roman law (impact on European legal codes)
· Reconquest of former Roman territories
Expansion of trade
The Church
Byzantine Church Mosaic
The cultural and political differences between the Eastern and Western Roman Empires weakened the unity of the Christian Church and led to its division.
Eastern Church
· Centered in Constantinople
· Close to seat of power after Constantinople became capital
· Use of Greek language in the liturgy
Western Church
· Centered in Rome
· Farther from seat of power after Constantinople became capital
· Use of Latin language in the liturgy
Division between Western and Eastern Churches
· Authority of the Pope eventually accepted in the West
· Authority of the Patriarch accepted in the East
· Practices such as celibacy eventually accepted in the West
Eastern Church
· Centered in Constantinople
· Close to seat of power after Constantinople became capital
· Use of Greek language in the liturgy
Western Church
· Centered in Rome
· Farther from seat of power after Constantinople became capital
· Use of Latin language in the liturgy
Division between Western and Eastern Churches
· Authority of the Pope eventually accepted in the West
· Authority of the Patriarch accepted in the East
· Practices such as celibacy eventually accepted in the West
Influence on Russia
Influence of Byzantine culture on Eastern Europe and Russia
· Trade routes between Black Sea and Baltic Sea
· Adoption of Orthodox Christianity by Russia and much of Eastern Europe
· Adoption of Greek alphabet for the Slavic languages by St. Cyril (Cyrillic alphabet)
Church architecture and religious art
· Trade routes between Black Sea and Baltic Sea
· Adoption of Orthodox Christianity by Russia and much of Eastern Europe
· Adoption of Greek alphabet for the Slavic languages by St. Cyril (Cyrillic alphabet)
Church architecture and religious art