The Byzantine Empire and Russia

The Rome of the East

312-1453

Constantinople: The New Rome• With the collapse of its western half, the Roman

Empire was restricted to Eastern Europe

• The fall of Rome to the Ostrogoths in 476 marked the end of the western half of the Roman Empire

• The eastern half continued as the Byzantine Empire, with Constantinople as its capital.

• Constantine wanted this city to be built from scratch as the center of the Christian world. He and his following emperors made Constantinople into one of the most elaborate and civilized cities in the world.

The Origins

• 292: Diocletian divides the Roman empire into two.

• 324: Constantine reunites the two parts

• 330: Constantine builds a new capital in the location of ancient Byzantium

• 337: The death of Constantine results in division between east and west.

City of Constantinople

Constantinople

• Successive emperors build strong walls, palaces, churches, gardens, aquaducts and made the city the biggest, strongest and most enlightened city of medieval Christendom The Walls of Theodosius

The Fall of Rome

• Barbarian tribes keep pushing into a fragmented and weakened Roman Empire.

• The east through bribery, diplomacy and better military resists effectively

• 476: Rome Falls • 491: Anastasius I: His

competent rule reorganizes the east. Financial strength and administative success.

The Last Legion

Differences from the West• They spoke Greek not Latin

• The didn’t dress in togas. Instead they wore Greek clothing

• Had somewhat different religious practices from Western Christians

• Broke with Pope over Monophosite heresy

• Highly fortified city of Constantinople was impervious to assault

Justinian the Great• Justinian was perhaps the last emperor who

tried re-conquering the west.

• Justinian, however, is most famous for the body of laws Justinians Code

• Justinian is also credited for founding Byzantine architecture with his building of the Santa Sophia (Hagia Sophia)

• Married an actress Theodora

• Ruled during the great plague

The Reign of Justinian

• The height of the first period of Byzantine history (324-632) was the reign of Emperor Justinian (r. 537-565) and his wife Empress Theodora (d. 548)

The Imperial Goal: Unity

• The imperial goal in the East was to centralize government and impose legal and doctrinal conformity.

One GodOne Empire

One Religion

1st Method: Law

• Justinian collated and revised Roman law. His Corpus Juris Civilis (body of civil law) had little effect on medieval common law. However, beginning with the Renaissance, it provided the foundation for most European law down to the 19th century.

Code of Justinian• The Codex Justinianus (529)

compiled all of the laws from the time of Emperor Hadrian. Contained over 5000 laws.

• The Digest,was issued in 533, and was a greater achievement: it compiled the writings of the greatest Roman legal minds along with current edicts.

Code Continued• The Institutes was intended as sort of

legal textbook for law schools. Later, Justinian issued a number of other laws, mostly in Greek, which were called Novels

• It was made up of the current law of the time, and a turning point in Roman Law: from then on the sometimes contradictory case law of the past was transformed into an ordered legal system.

2nd Method: Religion

• Religion as well as law served imperial centralization. In 380, Christianity had been proclaimed the official religion of the eastern empire. Now all other religions were considered “demented and insane.”

• "Not since the world was made was there . . . so much wealth as was found in Constantinople. For the Greeks say that two-thirds of the wealth of this world is in Constantinople and the other third scattered throughout the world."

• --Robert of Clari, a French crusader who witnessed the pillage of the city in 1204, describing Constantinople.

Hagia Sophia The Church of Holy Wisdom

• Justinian was an ambitious builder. His greatest monument was the magnificent domed church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), which was constructed in just five years (532 - 537).

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20Mosaic depicting Justinian (left) presenting model of church of Hagia Sophia to the Virgin Mary. Constantine to the right presents her with model of Constantinople

 

Riot in the Hippodrome

• Hippodrome-race track

• Nica Rebellion

• Theodora’s speech

• Belisarius retakes the city

• The Great Massacre

The Plague• The bubonic variety is carried by fleas which live on

rodents, particularly the black rat. without modern treatment it can result in death in 40 to 70 per cent of its victims

• The plague moved from city to city in the empire. In 558 it returned to Constantinople for a new crop of victims

• The plague brought a period of economic growth to an end. One estimate suggests that the population of the empire in 600 was only 60 per cent of what it was in 500.

Justinian’s legacy• Hagia Sophia remained the seat of Eastern

Christianity until the Fall of Constantinople.• 552: Byzantine monks sneak silkworms and

mulbery out of China. • Justinian orders the codification of Roman law

(Corpus Iuris Civilis).• He was heavy-handed towards heresies• In 529 he closed the philosophical school of

Athens, thus destroying the last stronghold of paganism.

The Byzantine Empire after Justinian

• No other Emperor can keep the Empire together and the territories gained under Justinian are once again lost.

• The Emperor becomes the head of the Eastern Christian Church.

• Great Universities and centers of learning were established

• New forms of art and architecture included the use of domes and mosaics

New Weaponry

• Greek Fire• Advanced

siege weaponry

• Battering rams

• Bridges carried by ships

Greek Fire• Greek Fire was the secret weapon of the

Eastern Roman Emperors. It is said to have been invented by a Syrian Engineer, in the seventh century (673 AD)

• The "liquid fire" was hurled on to the ships of their enemies from siphons and burst into flames on contact. As it was reputed to be inextinguishable and burned even on water, it caused panic and dread.

Greek Fire ContinuedIts introduction into warfare of its time was comparable in its demoralizing influence to the introduction of nuclear weapons in our time. The secret behind the Greek fire was handed down from one emperor to the next for centuries. Rumors about its composition include such chemicals as liquid petroleum, naphtha, burning pitch, sulfur, resin, quicklime and bitumen, along with some other "secret ingredient". The exact composition, however, remains unknown

• Byzantines used Greek language in Church services unlike the Western Churches who used Latin.

• Jealousy existed between East and West.• They clashed over technical points regarding the

faith• Ecumenical councils were called to settle the

arguments• Who is the leader of the Church? Emperor or

Pope?

The Great Eastern Schism:Setting the Stage for Division

Independent Thinking

• Ideas thought to be heresies by the Roman Catholic Church received imperial support:– Arianism denied that Father and

Son were equal and coeternal.– Monophysitism taught that Jesus

had only one nature, a composite divine-human one.

– Iconoclasm forbid the use of images (icons) because it led toidolatry.

The Religious Battles

• Arianism was the first major heresy which threatened to split the empire (4th-5th c.)

• In the age of Justinian Monophysitism won over the entire orient and Egypt (6th-7th c.)

• The ambivalence of Monophysitic provinces towards the center weakened Byzantine rule in Syria, Palestine and Egypt.

• When these provinces were lost to the Arabs in the 7th century, Orthodoxy prevailed.

• Then the more divisive Iconoclastic movement would tear apart the Empire for the next two centuries (8th -9th).

• The political effects of Monophysitism and Iconoclasm were detrimental.

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The Christian Church• Leader of the Christian Church

– Pope in the West

– Patriarch in the East

• Icons– Many

• kept icons of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and saints

• Venerated/honored icons in churches and homes

– vs. some…Iconoclasts • believed keeping icons was wrong

• Icon=idols

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Iconoclastic Controversy• Emperor Leo II ordered destruction of

icons.• Many church leaders in West

condemned use of Icons.• Pope called council of bishops to discuss

controversy.– Heresy to NOT allow the use of Icons.– Threatened Iconoclasts with

excommunication.– Caused split between the Eastern and

Western Churches.– Icons accepted later into Eastern Orthodox

Church.

1054:The Split• Many differences eventually led to the split

mainly the idea of Papal superiority and the social differences that had emerged between each part of the Christian Church.

• The Orthodox Church accused Rome of heresy for “changing” the Creed.

• The Patriarch excommunicated the Pope and the Pope Excommunicated the Patriarch and in 1054 the One Christian Church officially became two.

Differences Between East and West

1.The Eastern Church used the Greek language and vernacular while the Western used Latin only. 2.The Eastern Church used leavened bread for the Eucharist while the Western used unleavened bread. 3.The Western Church enforced celibacy for its priests and religious while the Eastern Church allowed its priests to marry. 4.The Western Church used the "filioque" while the Eastern Church did not.5.Pope the head of the Catholic Church while all bishops have equal authority in the East

Decline of the Byzantine Empire

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The Fall of Constantinople

• in 1204, the Crusaders attacked, conquered, and pillaged the city of Constantinople, a goal that the Muslims had been trying achieve for centuries

Conquered by the Ottoman Turks

• In 1453, the city was finally and permanently conquered by the Ottoman Turks and renamed Istanbul. Byzantine culture, law, and administration came to its final end.

Byzantine Influence Over Russia and Eastern Europe

• Cyrillic alphabet created by Eastern Orthodox monks for the Slavic language. It is based on Greek, and still used through the various Slavic countries today, such as Russia

• Russian art and architecture is based on Byzantine styles.

• Eastern Orthodox Church became official Church in Russia when king Vladimir was converted and he had all of his subjects converted as well

• The Byzantine Empire and Russia became great trading partners and they also pattered their governing style after the Byzantines.

The Geography of Russia

Russia’s varied climate zones helped shape early Russian life:

• A band of fertile land in the south was home to Russia’s first civilization.

• The steppe provided a highway for nomads migrating from Asia to Europe.

A network of rivers provided transportation for both people and goods. Major rivers ran north to south, linking Russia to the Byzantine world in the south.

The city of Kiev was located at the heart of the vital trade network linking Vikings, Slavs, and Constantinople. Kiev would later become the center of the first Russian state.

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Growth of Russia, 1330–15842

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Russia: The Setting and People• Located on large plain from E. Europe to C. Asia• South is grassy, treeless steppe• Rivers provide transportation link• Invaded at different times

– Slavs• Were frequently enslaved; slavs=“slaves”

– Avars

– Huns

– Magyars

– Vikings• Mostly interested in trade

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Kievan Russia• Rurik the Rus ruled over Slavic peoples

along Dnieper River.– Ruler of Rus people who controlled trade with

Byzantine Empire– Princes governed by councils of boyars– Prince could call veche (town mtgs)

• Yaroslav the WisePravada Russkia– Combined custom, traditions, & old laws

– Outlined lawful responses to crime

Kievan Religion• Traders and Greek missionaries brought

Christianity • Vladimir I sent officials to Byzantine

Empire, converted to Christianity– Beauty of Hagia Sophia

– Wanted to marry Anna, princess

• Ordered all citizens to convert to Christianity

• Religious themes dominate culture– Writing: hymns, sermons

– Art: Icons, mosaics, frescos

All reflected religious ideas and values43

• Russia under the Mongols– Strong influence on Russia

• roads, communication, lang., customs, behavior

– Mongols wanted to gain from wealthy resources

– Slavs allowed freedoms, taxed heavily

Effects of the Mongol Conquest

• Kiev and other Russian towns were destroyed.

• Many Russians were killed.

• The Mongols tolerated the Russian Orthodox Church, which grew more powerful.

• Russians adopted Mongol practice of subjugating women.

• Trade routes opened up between China and Eastern Europe.

• Absolute power of the Mongols served as a model for later Russian rulers.

• Russia was cut off from Western Europe at an important time.

In the early 1200s, Mongol armies, led by Genghis Khan, conquered Russia. The Mongols ruled Russia for 240 years.

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The Rise of Moscow• Princes in Moscow cooperated

with Mongols to gain independence. – Ivan I: Mongols gave title Great

Prince

– Leader of Eastern Orthodox Church moved to Moscow

• Fall of Constantinople leads Moscow to become “Third Rome” and spiritual light to world

• Architecture reflected spiritually, awe and wonder of people who worshipped in Moscow

Ivan The Great• Ivan III. (1462-1505) Ivan the Great

•  Ivan III: does not acknowledge power of Mongol Kahn

• Tradition of absolute monarchy established in Russia

• 1440. 1505.

• Prince of Moscow. Founder of Modern Russia.

• Marries niece of last Byzantine emperor.

• Adopts two-headed eagle. Takes title of ‘czar’ (tsar).

• Starts absolute rule: Limits power of boyars (landowning nobles).

• Brings much of northern Russia under his rule.

• Heir of Roman and Byzantine Empires– Took title Czar (Caesar)

• Good Period– Developed modernized legal code– Updated military, defended frontier– Opened trade with Western Europe– Sponsored settlement of Siberia

Ivan the Terrible

Ivan the Terrible…vs everyone else

• Bad Period– Formed oprichniki

• Arrested boyars and gave land to supporters• Terrorized countryside

– Known for cruel & unusual actions• Mass executions of thousands

– members of boyars, church, and family

Key terms

• Byzantine Empire

• Byzantium

• Greek Fire

• Code of Justinian

• Patriarch

• Great Schism

• Icons

• Orthodox

• Cyrillic

• Hippodrome

• Creed

• Kiev

• Nika Rebellion

• Pope

• Ecumenical Council

• Excommunicated

Key People

• Justinian• Theodora• Belasarius• Pope Leo III• Vladimir • Yaraslov the Wise• Genghis Khan• Ivan the Great• Ivan the Terrible