Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire

1. Tetrarchy

   • After the death of alexander the empire was divided into four parts headed by a coagusti and cocaesar.
   • WAR WAR WAR
   • Constantine
     • Reunites empire in 324
     • Christianity
       • Conversion leads to being head of the Christian Church. Increased conversion.
       • Christological Divisions
         • Council of Nicaea 325
           • Establishes the trinity as one spirit
         • Theo-Political Conflict
           • Adoption of christianity makes theological controversy into political controversy. Strong attempt to reconcile religious differences to promote stability.
     • Justinian
       • Shut out philosophers
       • Council of Chalcedon 451
         • Development of Judaism and Christianity in opposition.  Rejects monophysite position.
         • Monophysites
           • Coptic, Syriac, and Armenian christians were considered rebels. 
         • Dual preisthoods
           • Local poor monophysites became less loyal to empire. greek elite vs. local poor dynamic
         • Chalcedonians
       • Sucessors
         • come to power through a series of rapid coups
         • Bureaucratic Stability
           • Professional bureaucrats continue to run the empire through a series of emperors.
         • Conquest
           • abundance of resources and greed for more leads to conquest Attempts to reestablish dominance in North africa
         • Failure
           • Lose land holdings, deplete resources and manpower. 
         • Heraclius VS. Khusraw II Parviz
           • Khusraw's Early Wins
             • Quickly marches on Constantinople.
             • Internal Conflict
               • Main general leads mutiny against the state. Parthian Nobility quits the coalition and supports the byzantines
           • Theme system
             • developed by Heraclius to increase troops quickly.
           • Public Opinion
             • Conquered peoples welcomed the Sassanids and were upset when they were retaken by the Romans. Faced increased persecution
           • Borders Reestablished