BYZANTINES ARE HERE

THE RISE OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

The Byzantine Empire

• While the western part of the Roman empire fell in A.D. 476, the eastern part flourished.

• The Eastern part became known as the Byzantine Empire.

• Constantinople became one of the great cities of the world, mainly because of its location.

Greek Influence

• In many ways Byzantine was much more Greek than it was Roman, even though it was called “New Rome”.

• They eventually even began to speak Greek and have many of the Greek customs.

• This was another way the “Roman” way of life was fading.

Justinian

• Justinian became emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 527 A.D.

• He was a strong emperor. He controlled the military, made laws, and was his supreme judge.

• His wife’s name was Theodora, and she had a lot of influence with the government and her husband.

Justinian

• Justinian wanted to bring back the glory of the empire.

• He reconquered much of the territory that had once been in the Roman Empire.

• However, he conquered too much too quickly, and when he died much of it was lost again.

• He also redid the laws into a newer simplified version. This became known as Justinians Code.