Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire Eastern half of the Roman empire Lasted another 1000 years after the collapse of Rome Eastern empire continued ancient Greek and Roman traditions + maintained those ancient culturesHad advantages over the old western empire

Wealthier and more urbanized More defensible capital (Constantinople)

Stronger military Infrastructure (roads, trade, etc.)

Shorter borders

Byzantine Government Smaller than the roman empire Major force in the Mediterranean until 1200 when Europe and Islam (Turks) increased attacks Centralized government in Constantinople

emperor ruled as God’s representative on earth (theocracy)

awesome grandeur of court (based on ancient Persian style)

was mostly concerned with tax collection and keeping order

Byzantine Church Church was closely tied to the state and government Byzantine emperor was both the head of government and the church Emperor appointed church officials and sometimes made church decisionsAppointed patriarch (leader of Byzantine church)Byzantine church deeply influenced Byzantine life and provided cultural identity

Byzantine Church A. Byzantine started out in Roman Catholic

Christians (Latin church) but in 1054 officially separated and formed the eastern orthodox church

B. Eastern church and western church differences included: language, philosophy, theology, church practice

C. Byzantine rejected authority of the Pope to make all decisions

D. Great Schism (1054): leaders of two churches excommunicated (through out) the leaders of the others church

Byzantine Empire as a World Hub A. Byzantine empire had a foothold in Europe and Asia

B. Continued the long Roman fight with Persian empire

C. Major player in trade A. Gold coins used as currency for over 500 years B. Byzantine crafts (jewelry, textiles, dyes, silks) in high demand

D. Diffused culture to western Europe and Islamic world A. Keep alive and transferred ancient Greek learning to Islamic

world and western Europe B. Transferred Orthodox Christianity to eastern Europe and Russia

Conversion of Russia A. Converted Prince Vladimir of Kiev

B. Orthodox church became central to newly emerging Russian identity (still very important today)

C. After the fall of Constantinople and Byzantine in 1453 Russia anointed itself the (third Rome) and protector of Christianity

Fall of Byzantine A. Byzantine empire fell in

1453 after almost 1000 years in existence after the collapse of western Rome

B. Fell to Islamic Turks

Legacy of Byzantium A. While in existence kept

old world (Greek) learning alive

B. Helped prevent the takeover of Islam in Europe

Islam and the Islamic Empire

Origins of Islam A. Unlike most religions, Islam did not emerge from a large kingdom

or empire

B. Islam emerged in the Arabian peninsula A. Dry and dessert like conditions B. Was largely full of nomadic herders C. Also had some sedentary agriculture areas D. Was on the edge of the Byzantine empire

C. Arabs had adopted many religions (Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, smaller polytheistic beliefs)

The Messenger and the Message A. Muhammad (570-632 C.E.)

B. Was a merchant

C. Revelations from god (Allah) in 610 C.E.

D. Monotheistic

E. Argued for a return to the old “pure” religion of Abraham

F. Wanted to create a new society of justice, equality, and care for others

Core Message: Five Pillars A. first pillar is simple profession:

“There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”

B. prayer five times a day at prescribed times

C. generous giving to help the community and the needy

D. fasting during the month of Ramadan

E. pilgrimage to Mecca

Transformation of Arabia A. Arabia was quickly transformed and converted to Islam

B. Military successes led to alliances

C. Large-scale conversion

D. By Mohammed's death in 632 Islam was already controlling large parts of the Arabian peninsula

Islam v. Christianity A. Islam did not grow up a persecuted, minority religion like

Christianity

B. Islam did not separate church and state like the kingdoms of Europe Caliphate: Form of Islamic

government led by a person who is considered a political and religious successor to Mohammed

The Making of an Arab Empire A. Islam became a new third wave (post classical) civilization

B. Arabic culture and language spread quickly

C. Arab state grew to include Egyptian, Roman/Byzantine, Persian, Mesopotamian, and Indian civilizations

D. New centralization and political organization led to spread and growth of Islam

E. Byzantine and Persian empires were weakened by old wars which led to them eventually being defeated

The Making of an Arab Empire A. Reasons for Expansion

A. economic: capture trade routes and agricultural regionsB. individual Arabs sought wealth and social promotionC. communal: conquest helped hold the umma (Islamic people)

togetherD. religious: bring righteous government to the conquered

B. Conquest was not too destructive

Conversion A. People converted to Islam for various reasons

A. Better social position B. Similar to Judaism, Christianity, and

Zoroastrianism so easily adopted C. You could have Allah on your side

(governments liked this)D. State provided incentives for conversionE. Did not have to pay jizya (tax on none Arabs) F. Islam favored commerce

B. Some resisted conversion in Spain, Persia, and North Africa

C. Some areas (Egypt, North Africa, Iraq) also converted to Arab culture

Divisions in Islam A. After the death of Muhammad Islam split on who should be his

successor Muhammad

Shia

-Caliphs (Islamic leaders) should be decedents of Muhammad

-Identified themselves as opponents of privilege

Sunni

-Caliphs (political leaders) were rightful military and political leaders and should

be chosen by the Islamic community

Islam and Women A. spiritual level: Quran stated

explicitly that women and men were equals

B. social level: Quran viewed women as subordinate, especially in marriage

C. Quran helped women in some ways (banned female infanticide, gave women control over their own property, granted limited rights of inheritance, required woman’s consent to a marriage, recognized a woman’s right to sexual satisfaction)

Islam and Women A. early Islam: some women

played public roles; prayed in mosques, weren’t veiled or secluded

B. growing restrictions on women (especially in upper classes)

C. veiling and seclusion became standard among upper, ruling classes

D. lower-class women didn’t have the “luxury” of seclusion

Did the Arab conquerors reach a “natural” limit to expansion because they moved into geographical zones that no longer favored their fighting style? What political reasons, drawing on earlier chapters, might also have limited the expansion