Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire

1. Justinian

   • Justinian
     • Determined
       • He was determine to revive ancient Rome by recovering lands that had been overrun by invaders
     • Hagia Sophia
       • Re built the Hagia Sophia and it was known as his greatest triumph
     • Created Justinian's Code
       • A massive collection which included laws passed by Roman assemblies or decreed by Roman emperors, as well as the legal writings of Roman judges and a handbook for students.
     • He was deemed Christ's co-ruler on Earth
       • A Byzantine official wrote "The emperor is equal to all men in the nature of his body, but in the authority of his rank he is similar to God, who rules all."

2. The Great Schism

   • Icons
     • Was a cause of the Great Schism
     • Holy images
     • Created by Byzantine artist
     • Gave viewers a personal contact with the sacred
   • Byzantine Emperoe
     • Banned icons
     • Said that icons violated God's commandment against worshiping "graven images"
   • The Great Schism
     • Western
       • Didn't use icons
       • Roman Catholic Church
       • Latin
       • Priests couldn't marry
     • Eastern
       • Used icons
       • Greek Orthodox Church
       • Greek
       • Priests could marry

3. Contributions in art

   • Mosaics
     • Created by Byzantine artists
     • Brought scenes from the Bible to life
   • Churches
   • Palaces
     • Blended Greek, Roman, Persian and other Middle Eastern styles
   • Influenced Western styles from the Middle Ages to the present

4. Location

   • Constantinople
   • located on the shores of the Bosporus, a strait that links the Mediterranean and Black seas
   • Was guarded on three sides by water
   • Commanded key trade routes linking Europe Asia