The Greatness of the Byzantine Empire
Unit 5 Chapter 11
Lesson 2
Vocabulary
• Justinian I - Emperor of Byzantine Empire 527-565 CE
• Cathedral - Large important Christian church
• Hagia Sophia- Cathedral in Constantinople
• Constantinople -Capital of Byzantine Empire
• Theodora- Empress of Byzantine Empire
• Justinian Code- Set of Laws
• Icon- Religious picture of Jesus and saints
Constantinople• Formerly Byzantium• named after Constantine• Capitol of Byzantine Empire
• rebuilt by Emperor Justinian I after destroyed in riots• Hagia Sophia means Church of Holy Wisdom of God in Greek
Hagia = Holy Sophia = Wisdom
• Located in Constantinople• Largest Cathedral in world for nearly 1,000 years
Painting depicting
Construction of Hagia Sophia
during reign of Justinian
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia then
Hagia Sepia now
Hagia Sophia became an Islamic Mosque, today it is Museum
Interior of Hagia Sophia by John Singer Sargent1891 CE
Jesus Mosaic, one of many that have been uncovered in modern times
All Byzantine Cathedrals
were decorated in great detail
527 CE Justinian I ascended to the Byzantine throne
• Wanted to restore the Roman Empire• Wanted to govern it as a whole• Paid Persian Kings to stop threatening the far western
part of Asia – • Far Eastern Part of Byzantine Empire
• Strong army conquered• Many lands lost by Rome• Mediterranean Islands• N. Africa - Vandals• Italy - Ostrogoths• Spain - Visigoths
Coin commemorating Justinian's re-conquests of Africa, c. 535
The Byzantine Empire of Justinian’s Reign
Purple = size of Empire when Justinian came to powerOrange = lands conquered by Justinian
Theodora & Justinian
• Was a commoner– A circus performer in the
Hippodrome – Dad was a bear trainer
• Most trusted advisor– Intelligent– political wisdom– Street smart
• Told Justinian to defend city against attack in 532 C.E.
• Government jobs based on ability not social class
Justinian Code
• Wanted to organize laws• Made empire operate smoothly• 10 men review 1,600 books of
Roman Law to create simpler laws
• Men created Justinian Code• 4,000 Laws in 4 books
• Many legal systems today based on code– One of the laws in Justinian Code
stated that a person was innocent until proven guilty
• Many laws reflect Theodora’s view of treating women more fairly
Mosaic of Justinian as law-giver from San Vitale of Ravenna Cathedral
Architecture very
importantto show power of
the Empire
New harbors
Aqueducts
Cisterns
Churches
Interior & Bell Tower at St. Vitale Ravenna
Valens Aqueduct in Constantinople
Byzantine Art
Pair of Jeweled bracelets 500-700CE
flask with the adoration of the Magi 500-550CE
Portrait bust of Woman with a scroll late 4th-early 5th Century
Two Panels of an Ivory Diptych Announcing the Consulship of Justinian, 521CE
Fragment of a Floor Mosaic with a Personification of Ktisis, 500–550
Strong Ties between Church & Emperor Justinian I
• Byzantine Orthodox Church the Official Church
• Church controlled political and cultural life
• Justinian believed God chose him to run the Empire
• Justinian built the Hagia Sophia to cement relationship between Church and Emperor
Religious Icons
• Pictures or images of Jesus & Saints– 2 dimensional– Appear flat– Face front– Large eyes– Reverse viewpoint
• From God’s Perspective not viewer” Perspective
• God is looking out of picture at viewer
– Used as a form of prayer
• Use of Icons helped lead to schism between Byzantine Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church in1054Mary and Jesus Icon
Naturalistic vs. Iconic ArtSyric Bible illumination depicting Job vs. Icon of St.
Columba
End of the Empire• Byzantine Empire lasted 500 years• 1000 CE empire began to weaken• 1054 CE Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox
Church Schism (split)