The Rise of the

Byzantines

The Rise of the Byzantines Main Idea:

The Eastern Roman Empire grew rich and powerful as the Western Roman Empire Fell.

The Rise of the Byzantines Lecture Focus:

Think of your own community, how have groups of people from different backgrounds contributed to its character.

The Rise of the Byzantines

What would your town or city be like without these contributions from all different ethnic groups.

The Rise of the Byzantines The Eastern Roman, or Byzantine Empire reached a high point in

500 C.E.

At this time, the empire stretched west to Italy, south to Egypt and east to Arabia.

The Rise of the Byzantines Greeks made up the Empire’s largest group, but many other peoples

were found within the Empire.

Those included were Egyptians, Syrians, Arabs, Armenians, Jews, Persians, Slavs and Turks…a very diverse group of people

Why is Constantinople Important In the last unit, you learned that Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman

Empire from Rome to a new city called Constantinople.

Constantine's city became the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

Why is Constantinople Important

By 500 C.E., Constantinople was thriving and had become one of the worlds great cities.

Why is Constantinople Important One reason for Constantinople’s success was its location, it lay on the water ways

between the Black Sea (N E) and the Aegean Sea (S W)

Its harbors offered a safe shelter for fishing boats, trade ships and warships.

Why is Constantinople Important Constantinople also sat at the crossroads of trade routes between

Europe and Asia.

The trade that passed through made the city extremely wealthy.

Why is Constantinople Important

Constantinople had a secure land location,

lying on a peninsula, the city could be easily

defended.

Seas protected it on three sides and on the fourth side, a huge wall was built to guard the

city.

.

Why is Constantinople Important

Why is Constantinople Important

Why is Constantinople Important

Why is Constantinople Important Later a huge chain was even strung across the city’s north harbor for

greater protections.

Constantinople could not be taken by invaders easily.

Why is Constantinople Important

Why is Constantinople Important Questions:

What Roman Emperor moved his capital city?

What was the name of this city?

What were the names of the two seas in which this city was between?

What so perfectly protected the city from invaders?

Why is Constantinople Important Questions:

What Roman Emperor moved his capital city?

Emperor Constantine

What was the name of this city?

Constantinople

What were the names of the two seas in which this city was between?

The Black Sea and the Aegean Sea

What so perfectly protected the city from invaders?

Seas protected the city on three sides and a huge wall on the fourth side

Influence of Greek Culture The Byzantines at first followed the Roman Ways.

Constantinople was known as “New Rome” and its public buildings and palaces were built in a Roman style.

Influence of Greek Culture

The city even had an oval arena called the Hippodrome, where chariot races and other events were held.

Influence of Greek Culture

Influence of Greek Culture Byzantine political and social life also were based on that of Rome.

Emperors spoke Latin and enforced Roman Laws.

Influence of Greek Culture The empire’s poor people received free bread and shows of entertainment.

Wealthy people lived in town or on large farming estates…in fact many of these wealthy people had once lived in Rome.

Influence of Greek Culture As time passed, the Byzantine Empire became less Roman and more Greek.

Most Byzantines spoke Greek and honored their Greek past.

Influence of Greek Culture

Influence of Greek Culture Byzantine Emperors and officials began to speak Greek as well…

Some ideas also came from the Egyptians and the Slavs, though not as much as Greece.

Influence of Greek Culture Some other customs came from Persia into the Byzantine Empire.

All of these cultures blended together to form a unique Byzantine Civilization.

Influence of Greek Culture

Between 500 C.E. and 1200 C.E., the Byzantines had one of the world’s richest and most advances Empires.

Influence of Greek Culture Questions:

What was Constantinople known as?

As time passed the Byzantine Empire became less Roman and more like ____________?

What other countries and empires had an influence on the Byzantine Empire?

Influence of Greek Culture Questions:

What was Constantinople known as?

“New Rome”

As time passed the Byzantine Empire became less Roman and more like ____________?

Greek

What other countries and empires had an influence on the Byzantine Empire?

Egypt, Persia and Slavs

Influence of Greek Culture Reading Check:

Why do you think the Byzantine Empire had such a blending of such different cultures?

Answer in 2-3 well written sentences…