The Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire

1. Justininan

   • Emperor
     • Biggest triymph was rebuilding the Hagia Sophia bigger and better than before
     • Revived Ancient Rome
     • Byzantine Empire reached its peak under his rule
     • Autocrat: a sole ruler with complete authority over all
   • Justinian's Code
     • Helped strengthen and centralize power all over Europe
     • Reform in the law
     • Included laws passed by Roman assemblies or decreed by Roman emperors, as well as legal writings of Roman judges and a handbook for students
     • Body of Civil Law
   • Theodora
     • Biggest moment: The revolt in 532 when she inspired Justinian to remain in Constantinople
     • helped to control the empire by being the advisor
     • Wife of Justinian
     • Was never afraid to challenge Justinian and pursue her own policies
   • Hagia Sohpia
     • A church that means Holy Wisdom
     • Stands at a cultural and geographic crossroad called now a days Istanbul
     • Justinian ordered it to be built after the previous church had been destroyed in riots
     • Serves as a cathedral of the eastern Orthodox Christianity, a Roman catholic cathedral. and an Islamic mosque

2. The Great Schism

   • Split in eastern and western Christianity
     • Byzantine Empire is the eastern
     • Roman Catholic is the western
     • Pope and patriarch treated each other like rival instead of like separate branches of the same faith
     • pope and patriarch excommunicated each other
   • The Byzantine Empire refused the using of icons
     • Violated God's commandment against worshiping "graven images"
     • Many battles within the empire started
     • Images were used like Jesus, Mary, and Saints
     • Happened in 1054
   • Eastern= Byzantine Empire
     • Patriarch
     • Priest had the right to marry
     • Celebrated only Easter
     • No icons allowed
     • Greek Orthodox
   • Western= Roman Catholic Church
     • Latin
     • Pope is in charge
     • Celebrates Christmas and Easter
     • Icons are allowed
     • Priest weren't allowed to get married

3. Constantinople

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