The Byzantine Empire

• Constantinople: capital city of Byzantine Empire; ancient Byzantium; modern Istanbul

• Constantine: Roman Emperor who moved capital to Byzantium

• Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian and stopped persecution of Christians

• Moved capital city to Byzantium in eastern empire, renamed it Constantinople

The Byzantine Empire

• Citizens of Constantinople were still called Byzantines

• Empire eventually split in two – one capital in Rome (Holy Roman Empire), one in Constantinople

• The eastern half of empire was stronger and wealthier

• Strait – narrow body of water separating two land masses

• Bosporus – strait separating Europe and Asia; connects Black Sea to Mediterranean

The Byzantine Empire

• Constantinople was at crossroads of land and sea trade routes

• Was located on the Bosporus

• City charged taxes for all goods passing through the city – grew wealthy

The Byzantine Empire

• Justinian’s Code: collection of Roman laws and explanations for them and their use; became basis for many modern legal systems

• 476 Holy Roman (western) Empire falls

• Justinian was a great Byzantine ruler

• Main contribution was organizing laws in Justinian’s Code

The Byzantine Empire

• Greek Fire: Ancient weapon that was a substance that would burn without going out – even in water; formula now lost to history

• Emperors after Justinian had to fight many wars against neighbors

• Greek Fire used to defend themselves

The Byzantine Empire

• Schism: Split – usually between two groups who originally had similar beliefs

• Byzantines were Christian

• Celebrated differently from Christians in West

• In 1054 founded their own church: Eastern (Greek) Orthodox

• Christians in West were called Catholics

The Byzantine Empire• Conflicts with Turks and

others weakened empire• Catholic Christian

Crusaders and Muslims often attacked empire

• 1453 force of 70,000 Muslim Turks laid siege to Constantinople

• 7,000 defenders held out for two months

The Byzantine Empire

• Empire fell in 1453• Muslims took over,

rebuilt the city and renamed it Istanbul

The Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire