Unit 3: Chapter 13The Commonwealth

of Byzantium

The Postclassical EraPolitical, social, economic, and cultural changes

that shaped the world.

Procopius tells a story about two monks – How does this story about the production and retrieval of silk industry reflect on the character of early Christian clergy?

Why would Byzantine’s want to learn the secrets of silk production?

What specific type(s) of production secrets were illegally smuggled into the U.S. from Great Britain during the early industrial revolution?

Byzantine VIP’s

Constantine (306-337)- saw flaming cross to win battle for emperor, built Constantinople

Justinian I (527-565)- known as the Apostate for outlawinging teaching Christianity, codified laws, captured much of former Roman Empire, built Hagia Sophia, reign greatly affected by wife Theodora

John I Tzmikes (925-976)- ruled during Golden Era, expanded borders into Syria

Basil II (976-1025)- known as Bulgar Slayer for conquering Bulgaria, death began decline 

Byzantine Empire

Trade changes everything!

Flourishing and growth of powerful new TRADING CITIES

Luxury goods

Intensification of cross-cultural exchange

Unprecedented concentrations of wealth

Mediterranean Shipping

Trans-Saharan Trade

The caravan

The camel saddle 5 BCE – a tremendous invention

Fighting

Packing

Even distribution

Middle eastern origin

Caravanserai

Indian Ocean Trade

Maritime innovation

Compass

Astrolabe

Larger ship designs

Silk Road Trade Routes

New forms of credit & monetization

Medieval Sourcebook: The Roubauds: A Purchase on Credit, 1248

Purchases on credit were not unusual in the thirteenth century, such arrangements being in the nature of book credit or an advance of goods on credit to the purchaser. The price was probably sufficiently high to cover interest charges during the two months' period.

June the fifth. I, Peter Roubaud the elder and I, Peter Roubaud, his son, by my father's authority, both acknowledge and confess to you Hugh Dieudé, son of the late Hugh Dieudé, that we have jointly bought, had, and received from you six loads of cotton less thirty-four pounds, renouncing, etc. As the price of that cotton we owe you 106 pounds of the mixed money now current in Marseilles which make 212 of Raymond's pounds. This 106 pounds of mixed money, twenty-six pounds per mark by weight, we promise by this agreement to pay to you so that when one of us pays both shall be quit. Payment will be made in the middle of August next coming, and we promise to reimburse you for all costs and expenses incurred in the seeking of the payment of that sum after the agreed date, etc.

Witnesses, etc..

Bills of exchange

Credit Checks Banking

houses

New Trading Cities

Novgorod

Timbuktu

Swahili City-States

Hangzhou

Calicut

Baghdad

Melaka

Venice

Tenochtitlan

Cahokia

Research one of the cities on this list

Where is it?

What trading item & route made them rich?

What year(s) were their heyday?

What language(s) did they speak?

What civilization/people created the city?

What religion was predominantly followed?

Are they still an important city?

Share your findings with the class

Constantine

1st Pope of the Eastern Orthodox church?

Cross in the sky

Constantinople “new Rome”

Hippodrome

Edict of Milan 312

A defensible Peninsula in view of two continents

Capital: Byzantium

On the Bosporus

Commercial/strategic location

Constantinople for Constantine

1453 Falls to Turks, renamed Istanbul

Byzantine Empire

Inherited the Eastern ½ of the Roman Empire when the Roman Empire collapsed in the 5th century

What types of structures made this a viable, ready-made empire?

The Sasanid’s were a consistent problem in the East requiring diversion of resources.

Justinian (527-565 C.E.)

Macedonian origins

Theodora

Hagia Sophia

Codification of Roman law into the Corpus iuris civilis

553 push into W. Roman empire

Justinian’s additions

Islamic Conquests

By the 7th century Islamic people overran the Sasanid empire and threatened Constantinople (674-678, 717-718)

Dichotomy of the Christian faith

Eastern Christian

Greek

Education paramount

Subtle

Led by Ceasaropapist emperors

Council of Nicea

Teaching linked to imperial thought

Philosophical theology

Icon worship questioned

Bearded priests

Western Christian

Latin

Devotion paramount

Heresy hawks

Ecclesiastical leadership

Education centered in monasteries

Icon worship embraced

Clean-shaven priests

Caesaropapism

Centralized political and ecclesiastical power in one man

Absolute authority on the basis of divine authority, not divinity

Authority extended to politics, military, judicial, financial, and religious matters

Political Organization of the Byzantine Empire

Theme system

General

Recruited free peasants

Paid w/land

Quick mobilization

Greek Fire

Basil II – The Bulgar Slayer

Bulgarian’s had been harassing the Byzantines for centuries

1/100 left w/1 eye out of 15000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhPlWuvp888

Describe the continuity and

change over time of the theme system in relation to Byzantine

society.

You may work with a partner. This is a graded classwork assignment.