What are the advantages of building a major city here?

AdvantagesPeninsula

Safe harbors for shipsProvided natural defense

water on 3 sides

TradeEasy access to the Med. SeaHad important land route = linked Europe & Asia (Silk Road)

MAP

Byzantine Empire

330 – 1455 AD

Founding of Constantinople

330 A.D. Constantine relocated capital to Greek city of Byzantium or Constantinople New capital modeled after RomeByzantine Empire started w/fall of W. Rome by the Germans

ConstantinopleCity was heavily fortified

Water on 3 sides & wall to protect the 4th side

Multi-ethnic citySpoke Greek, but Latin = official language.600,000 peopleConstantine convinced wealthy Romans to move to the city by offering to build them palaces.

The Rule of Justinian I

As Emperor (527):Was a generalChose who served under him based on ability not wealthLeader of military, Gov., & Church, laws, and was supreme judge

Theodora (Justinian’s Wife)Passed Women’s Rights

Dowry: could own land equal to wealth at marriage

Held back a rebellion

Justinian’s Conquest Wanted to reunite E. & W. parts of the empire Belisarius lead the new strengthened armies

Developed Greek fire (1st secret chemical weapon)

Took Italy, Spain & North Africa Most of the land was lost after his death

The Rule of Justinian I

Hagia SophiaContribution: 12,000 workers to completeMajor feature was its huge dome Very complex, wide uses of mosaics

Justinian Code Simplify current legal systemTribonian, combined Greek & Roman legal traditionsBecame the law of the land & basis of civil law in Western Civilizations

Germany, Italy, South Africa, USA

The Church

Patriarch(Leader of the Church)

Metropolitans(Church officials)

Bishops Priests

•Emperor was head of gov. & church

Byzantines used icons (religious images) to worship726: Emperor Leo banned icons (thought honoring them was a form of idol worship forbidden by God)

People in West couldn’t read so they used icons. Pope in the West said Leo and supporters no longer members of Church

Patriarch would not recognize the Pope as Head of the Church

Split called the schismPope broke his ties with Byzantines and worked with Franks

Decline of the EmpireBorders were safe so Gov. took away land from farmers (army) so had no reason to remain loyal to armyLet Venetians do business tax-free

Controlled most of empire’s trade

InvadersChristians (West) & Muslims (East)1453 – Turkish conquered