Byzantium+and+Orthodox+Europe

= Byzantium  =

The city of Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine empire. Its strategic geographic location made it a great commercial center of trade. This was because Constantinople had the Bosporus, the only route connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Roman emperor Constantine the Great chose this area as the capital of Eastern Roman Empire in 330 AD because of the revenue from passing merchant ships. The strait also provided a greater advantage in case of a naval attack because of the small strait. The only ways Constantinople was defeated was when the Ottomans built fortifications on both sides of the straits. = The Byzantine Empire: =
 * Shaped by the decline of the Roman Empire and the rise of Islam in Asia, the Byzantine empire stood against many attacks and survived for nearly 1000 years.
 * Origins of the Empire
 * The Byzantine Empire was establish in the 4th century, and it became a vital economic center during and after the fall of Rome
 * Thy Byzantines fended off invading Huns, as they enjoyed an ideal geographical location for trade, commerce, and agriculture.
 * The empire soon engulfed the Mediterranean Sea to control a large portion of naval trade.
 * Latin was the official language until the 6th century (following Justinian), Greek became the common tongue. Latin became a barbaric language and knowledge of Greece helps Byzantine scholars to study Greek works in science, philosophy and art.
 * Hellenized Egyptians and Syrians entered the Byzantine expanding bureaucracy in Constantinople.
 * Byzantines recruit armies in Middle East rather than foreigners to empire, and this proves more reliable in military defense and expansion.
 * Justinian's Achievements
 * Early on, Byzantine empire fights off attacks from the Persians and Germanic tribes with local armies and high-class Greek generals.
 * In 533 A.D., Emperor Justinian attempts to recapture more western territory with the purpose of restoring Byzantine to its old Roman glory.
 * Justinian described by Procopius, a historian of the time, as a "moron."
 * Justinian also heavily influenced by his wife, Theodora, which was power-hungry and pushed forward plans for expansion.
 * Justinian has many positive influences on Byzantium:
 * Rebuilds Constantinople after being ravaged by riots against higher taxes.
 * Extends Roman architecture - builds a magnificent church, the Hagia Sophia, a wonder of the Christian World. Achievement in both engineering and architecture (because of enormous dome size).
 * Systematized the Roman legal code:
 * Summerized and reconciled many prior laws and decisions.
 * Unifying of law organized and strengthen the whole empire, just as it did to the state's bureaucracy.
 * With the aid of general Belisarius, Justinian makes territorial gains in north Africa and Italy.
 * Temporary capital of Ravenna becomes a major artistic center.
 * Both Italian and North African territories recaptured due to outside invaders and pressures.
 * Over expansion of empire had negative effects; as Persians and Slavic groups regain new territories.
 * Tax burdens of lower class cause internal chaos and led to Justinian's death in 565 A.D.

= ESPIRIT: Byzantine Empire = None mentioned || Summary of the Byzantine Empire:
 * E || The Byzantine empire depend upon control of the countryside, with the government bureaucracy regulating trade and the value of food.
 * Wars with Arabs add new economic burdens to the empire; invasions and taxation increased mutually; small farmer population was squeezed even further, giving the aristocratic class more power.
 * Moderated food prices were kept low to to keep low-class content.
 * Wide trade networks between Asia and Russia/Scandinavia developed, with silk production strengthening this trade
 * Merchant class expands further ||
 * S || Byzantine society was not as rigid as Rome's was, with females enjoying a higher overall status. The farmers remained over burdened with taxes.
 * Large merchant class never gained significant control mainly due to the government control over these trade networks.
 * Bureaucrats from all different classes.
 * Cultural life centers on secular traditions of Hellenism - also important to education of bureaucrats.
 * Women hold a significant role in politics compared to other civilizations (Theodora is an empress with great leadership qualities) ||
 * P || The Byzantine empire had a quasi bureaucratic system in which the emperor served under God and then in turn controlled the state and the church – divine right.
 * Elaborate court rituals symbolized divine righteousness of all-powerful kings.
 * Empress Theodora was a fearless and strong leader; limits bureaucratic corruption and put unruly nobles in place
 * Byzantine bureaucrats were highly educated and could come from a variety of social classes.
 * The state controlled the church and appointed head church officials.
 * Political leadership had its ups and downs, no stable era of rule. ||
 * I || Byzantine interactions with Muslims and Greeks alter daily life and culture in the empire.
 * Arab cultural and commercial influence also affect patterns of life in Constantinople.
 * Common Christian foundations between east and west continued to exist.
 * Hellenistic culture influences bureaucracy and bureaucratic education ||
 * R || Rich Hellenistic culture blends in more fully with Christianity as the Christian churches in the East and West split from each other
 * **Eastern church acknowledges pope first among equals**
 * Split between Orthodox Christianity and Catholic church beginning to be apparent. (Conflict of the specifications of the bread used in religious ceremonies.
 * The split later is formalized with the excommunication of both the pope and the patriarch by each other.
 * Religious differences continue to develope following the post-classical era, but common Christian traditions and morals still exist. ||
 * I || Art and architecture were expected of the Byzantines; and distinct style was developed due to Roman influence and powerful religious icons.
 * Byzantines adapted Roman domed buildings and richly colorful religious mosaics.
 * byzantine art portrays the great control of state over church - opposite to the western counterpart.
 * byzantine art at times portrays a militant form of Christ. ||
 * T || Roman achievements in engineering were advanced and improved upon.

"The Byzantine empire was shaped by the decline of the Roman empire and the rise of the Arabs. The empire weathered many attacks and flourished for several centuries."

The Byzantine empire began during the fall of Rome. Following the split of Byzantine from the Western Rome, Constantinople was named the new capital, a city in an ideal geographic location for commerce and defense. the Byzantine empire faces many outside challenges in the first centuries of its development. Through military exploration, the Byzantines are able to defeat most of these invaders and expand even further than their original boundaries. Under Justinian, the Byzantines adopt and improve upon Roman law and architecture, and they also are able to expand the empire around the entire Med. Sea. Byzantine society was somewhat flexible with women such as Theodora gaining enormous political significance. A mass peasantry developed on which all the funds of the state relied on (taxation). The state was also a complex bureaucracy, with the emperor in charge of appointing church officials. The church (patriarch) of Constantinople split for the church (pope) of the West due to due beliefs and understanding of Christianity, and that results in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. Although they later on developed quite differently, the churches still had very basic beliefs that were identical each other. Due to increasing Arab pressures and declining political leadership, the Byzantine decline was surely inevitable but uncontrollably gradual.

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This part of Justinian's code basically addresses the ownership of items among the common citizens. Justinian takes on a somewhat just approach in appointing the rightful owners of certain objects in certain situations. However, Justinian's approach seems very materialistic and is based upon the tangibility of certain item, completely disregarding at times the original owner or creator. In a general sense, Justinian, by formalizing and codifying Roman law, is able to create a unique set of laws that are made to settle internal disputes among the people and ensure peace and tranquility for all.

Document 1: Defined law and justice by defining people's civil and legal rights. Defined marriages and nonmarriages. Slavery was legal because civil law override natural rights. It tells us the Byzantine society placed civil law above all with the recognition that natural laws exist.

Document 3:

=Eastern Europe:=


 * 1) Who were Cyril and Methodius? What did they accomplish?
 * 2) How did events in the Middle East affect the demographics of the East Central borderlands?
 * 3) Outline the development of the Kievan Rus
 * 4) What important decision was made by Vladimir I?
 * 5) What were some of the major similarities and differences between Byzantium and the Kievan Rus?
 * 6) What factors led to the decline of the Kievan Rus?


 * 1) They were both Christian missionaries of Orthodox Christianity sent to Czech and Slovak republics. Although Catholic missionaries enjoyed more success, these missionaries continued in the Balkans and Southern Russia and actually developed a written script for the region based on the Greek alphabet. This language is Cyrillic, and it remains to this day as a Slavic language.
 * 2) Jews fleeing from the Middle East migrated to the eastern borderlands; as a result, there was an increased number of Jews in eastern Europe, especially in Poland. Although these Jews were discriminated upon, they still gained economic strength. They also brought the idea of extensive education and literacy for males.
 * 3) Slavic peoples move into Russian plains, mix with inhabitants and share traditions/culture.
 * 4) Traders from Scandinavia began trading through Slavic lands until they reached Russia through great rivers (Dnieper River)
 * 5) They developed a strong trade with city of Constantinople and remained very dependent for merchandise.
 * 6) The Norse set up government along the trade route, led to creation of the city of Kiev.
 * 7) Monarchy sooon emerge, with a man named Rurik becoming the first Kievan Rus.
 * 8) Rule made up of loosely constructed alliances with local princes.
 * 9) He converted everyone to Christianity, even forcibly. He used military pressure to perform mass baptisms. Christian scholars were brought in from Byzantium. This led to the development of a separate Russian Orthodoxy, one very similar to the church in Byzantium in terms of king supremacy.
 * 10) Both Kievan Rus and Byzantium were shaped by some form of Christianity. In Byzantium it was Eastern Orthodox and in Kievan Rus it was a Russian Orthodox, both sharing similarities but yet very difference. The Byzantine political system was much more elaborate the Kievan Rus' monarchy. In Byzantium, a complex bureaucracy headed by the state and influenced by the church was existent, while the Kievan Rus monarchy was no more powerful than some loosely strung alliances with region aristocrats. The powerful bureaucracy in Byzantium allowed for great territorial expansion and better organization.
 * Internal dispute over leadership and succession resulted in weakness in face of invasions.
 * Decline of Trade with Constantinople, a major trade center that the empire has come to heavily rely on.
 * The invasions by the Tartars (Mongols) deeply penetrated Kievan Rus by did not capture major cities.
 * Tartars retained control for 2 centuries.
 * Decline in Russian Literature and trade with surrounding nations.
 * Tartars retained control for 2 centuries.
 * Decline in Russian Literature and trade with surrounding nations.

Summary of In Depth: p.208


 * Nationalism and Political disputes made deciding boundaries an emotional issue.
 * If the division is by mainstream culture, then Europe is divided into 2 parts: Orthodox and Catholic territories.
 * They may also be divided by language (Latin vs. Cyrillic/Greek)
 * Politically, nations such as Poland and Lithuania developed enormous regional kingdoms the barely could have been considered to be more than loosely organized feudal monarchies.
 * Poland and Hungary were also divided economically, harbor very difference economic structures.
 * Even though Russia still acquired parts of Poland in its empire, cultural differences were still apparent.
 * Frequent invasions made it even harder to determine areas in terms of a single civilization.


 * 1) **Overall Summary of Eastern Europe:**

Following the decline of Rome and the rise of Islam, Byzantium grew out of the heart of Euroasia and withstood many attacks. In attempt to revive Roman glory, the Byzantines did not achieve that status but later influenced and directed the development of the Kievan Rus', a new empire to the north.