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A Byzantine Snapshot

+The Empire Forms In 330 CE, Constantine

renamed the city of Byzantium Constantinople

When the Roman Empire was split, Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire

When the Western Empire fell, the Eastern Empire became its own sovereign empire

What does sovereign mean?

+Territory

Began with all the territory that was the Eastern Roman Empire

Would slowly expand that territory over time.

+Territory by 565

+Capital Constantinople was the heavily

fortified capital of the Byzantine Empire.

Located at the crossroads of Asian and European trade routes

Easily defended from land, the city was surrounded by water on three sides

Had strong walls and was well defended

+Capital

The harbor had chains strung across it to prevent unwanted ships from getting in.

When Rome fell, became the wealthiest and most advanced city in the western world

Eventually became home to over one million people.

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+Technology Maintained level of Roman

technology

Had a rare sewer system to maintain public health

Crossroads for both European and Middle Eastern thought and technologies

Provided social services including hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages

+Culture

The Byzantine Empire changed the language of the Empire from Roman to Greek

Followed Greek culture This happened as the Latin

areas of the Roman empire were taken over and the Greek areas remained

+Culture

Art was focused on religious figures and scenes

For recreation, the people of the Byzantine empire would watch chariot races in the Hippodrome

Had unique architecture different from both Rome and Greece

+Art

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+Government

Emperor was the head of government and was was believed to have divine authority

The Senate did not have any real authority, but continued to exist

Strategos were people that governed certain regions of the empire.

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