Post- Classical World

500 CE – 1000 CE

The Byzantine Empire

286 CE -1453 CE

Dioceltian Divides Roman Empire Diocletion divided Roman

empire in 286 CE to try to more effectively rule the sprawling empire– Established “a tetrarchy”

– 4 caesars and 4 capitals However, in-fighting

followed Diocletian’s rule Constantine seized control of

entire Roman Empire following famous Battle of Milvian Bridge against his brother in law, Maxentius

Emperor Diocletian

Battle of Milvian Bridge: "In this sign, you shall conquer.”

Constantine Following his “vision”

Constantine legalized Christianity with his Edict of Milan in 313 (however he did not convert until his deathbed !

Not only that: he crowned himself “Patriarch” of Church in Constantinople

“Caesaropapist” rule– Eastern emperors were now

spiritual and temporal leader of empire

– Called Church “Councils”

Statue of Constantine in

Louvre Museum

Constantine calls Council of Nicea

Catholic faith attacked by a heresy (Arian) which called Jesus’ divinity into question

Constantine called together a council of bishops to Nicea( in Turkey) in 325 CE

Arian heresy was soundly refuted by the bishops

Result: Nicean Creed said today during Catholic Mass

Church “fathers” at Council of Nicea

Byzantine Court

Large complex bureaucracy gave meaning to word “byzantine”

Spiritual and temporal rule meshed in “caesaropapism”

Legacies:– Justinian’s Code -Ius

civilis – codified existing Roman law into one body written in Latin

– Church & state were one

The Mr. and Mrs…

Theodora- actress, prostitute, Empress & co-ruler

Justinian- Caesaropapist ruler of Byzantine Empire

Justinian and his court

Theodora and her court

Two different views from most famous historian of Byzantine Empire !

However, Procopius’ “Secret History” paints a very different picture of Justinian and Theodora!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procopius

Procopius’s official history called “Justinian’s Wars” paints a glorious picture of a glorious Emperor

Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom) now, Aya Sofia

Christian and Islamic art reside side by side in Aya Sofia today

Byzantium/Constantinople was a very strategic location because of its location on the

Bosporus –straddling two continents.

Byzantine emperors developed the “theme” system ( similar to Persia satrapies) to help rule their expanding empire

Byzantine Art (Icons)

Typical Byzantine Art

Icons

Gold Gilt

Mosaic

Non-smiling face

Long slender fingers

Iconoclast Movement ( 726 CE)

Some Byzantine bishops believed people were worshipping icons as idols and tried to persuade Emperor Leo III to issue an edict against images.

He was “unmoved” until he interpreted an earthquake as a sign of divine wrath against icons…and the edict was issued !

The picture above shows “iconoclasts” whitewashing an image of Jesus.

Notice the Byzantine influence of St. Mark’s Basilica in San Marco Square in Venice

Venetian merchants and sailors brought back many Byzantine influences ( including these horses) to Italy.

The actual stolen horses from Constantinople now in the museum in Venice- still a lingering resentment !

Decline of Byzantine Empire ( 800-1200 CE)

Byzantine Empire was beseiged on all sides:

Umayyad Muslims threatened Byzantines

Sasanians: last native dynasty to reign in Persia also persecuted Christians of Byzantine Empire

Nomadic tribes invaded the Balkans

Enormous debts piled up. Sassanid King captures Roman emperor,

Valerian

The Great Schism 1054 CE Final break with western

Roman Catholic church

Eastern - Greek influence

Western – Latin influence Pope and Patriarch

excommunicate each other ! Lingering resentments

– Crusaders ransacked Constantinople in 1204 CE

– Some trivial (beards on priests, celibacy)

Even Pope John Paul II’s ( the great “unifier” ) visit to the Patriarch could not

could not heal the rift between the east and west

Unfriendly and Friendly Fire Leads to Trouble for Byzantine Empire

Seljuk Turks began moving into the Byzantine Empire from Central Asia in the eleventh century.

The Turks had recently become Muslims, and the Byzantine emperor feared they would soon overpower his Christian empire.

Byzantine Empire was finally captured by Ottoman Turks in 1453

Crusaders turned on their own Christian brethren during 4th

Crusade in 1204

How did Orthodox religion travel to Russia ???

Byzantine Church and Russia

Russian princes developed an interest in Byzantine Empire around 800 CE

Prince Vladimir I converted to Christianity (and ordered his subjects to do likewise ! )

Byzantine art, architecture soon spread to Russia – but took on a unique “Russian” style

Today, the Russian Orthodox church carries on legacies of Byzantine church and culture

St Basil’s Cathedral

in Moscow

Different “Orthodox “Styles

Santorini

By 1000 CE ………..

Battle for the Middle East:– Islamic “Empire” vs. Byzantine Empire

West: collapse of classical world in western Europe followed by period of ‘regrouping” in feudal system

East: Intense interaction with rest of world

– Technology explosion– Period of peace and stability- golden age – Extensive trade networks ( land and sea)– Sinicization (spread of Chinese culture)

Africa: Rise of great African kingdoms (info later)