byzantine civilization 2.3. background split in church –created two distinct european...
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Byzantine Civilization
2.3
Background
• Split in church– Created two distinct European civilizations
• Byzantine Civilization– Orthodox– Tradition
Culture…..Unique
• Constantinople= crossroads of trade– Mixer of classic Greek and Roman ideas
• Preserving Roman law– Would have been lost without Byzantine– Justinian
• Admired order• Legal legacy was confusing…local laws, imperial laws and
judge’s decisions• Organized lawyers to organize• Unified Code- systematic body of law
Justinian Code
• Published in 529• In today’s terms seems harsh• Did protect some individual rights
– Theodora’s influence– Women rights…could inherit property
• Preserved roman legal tradition– Many nations still base legal system on roman
Law
Justinian Code
• Four Parts– The Code
• Collection of Roman laws
– The digest• Summary of writings by experts
– The Institutes• Basic principles of Roman law in textbook form for the
purpose of teaching law students
– Novels• Laws issued by Justinian
Art and Architecture
• Own style
• Hagia Sophia– Cross shaped floor plan– Topped by enormous dome
• 185 feet above floor
– Lamps hung to give golden glow
Hagia Sophia Video
Arts
• Flat and formal and religious
• Icons and mosaics– Design made with colored stones and small
pieces of glass– Backed with shimmering sheets of gold
• Mosaics glowing with rich color covered walls and domes of churches
Education and Literature
• Important aspect of civilization• Government supported schools• Older students learned philosophy, math
and music• Libraries copied and preserved
manuscripts– Handwritten documents– Homer’s epics, Greek and Roman philosophy
• Would have been lost without libraries
Spread of Byzantine Culture
• Long and Violent history– Armies had to fight off invasions– Imperial court known for plots and power
struggles• Rulers blinded, poisoned, or beheaded
• Culture still spread– How?...Two Ways, Constantinople and
Missionaries
Lure of Constantinople
• Visitors wanted to come to Constantinople– Trade was key– Scholars came to study– Artists came to work
• Byzantine leaders flaunted wealth– Elaborate ceremonies, jewels and rich clothing– Visitors took ideas and products back with them
• Venice and Ravenna outposts for art and architecture
• Russia and Ukraine took many elements
Missionary Work
• Missionaries traveled with church and Byzantine ideas
• Late 800’s– Traveled through Eastern Europe
• Home of Slavs (Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians)
Cyril and Methodius
• Most Famous Missionaries
• Came from noble family
• “Apostles of Slavs”
• 862 King of Moravia asked Emperor Michael III to send missionaries to Slavic– Cyril and Methodius sent..they knew language
• Cyril invented alphabet of Slavic Language
• Translated Bible
Cyrillic Alphabet
• Gave Slavs their first written language
• Alphabet still used today in some form– Russia, Serbian and Slavic languages
Conversion of Russians
• Inspired by Cyril and Methodius
• Missionaries traveled to North RUS (Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia)
• 988 Prince Vladimir– Sent officials to Constantinople to learn faith– Hagia Sophia dazzled them
• When they returned Prince and Russians converted
End of Empire
• Always under attack– Germanic Tribes from west took control of
some lands– East Perisan Empire constant threat– Arabs from south and Slavs from North
• Wanted rich city of Contanstinople• For centuries held their own
– City strong wall’s by land– By sea…new weapon
Greek Fire
• Chemical mixture that burned furiously– Even in water– would shoot at enemy ships– http://www.history.com/videos/greek-fire-a-bo
mb-of-the-ancients#greek-fire-a-bomb-of-the-ancients
End came Slowly
• Attackers took small bits
• Kept Constantinople
• Final Attack– Turks– Greek fire no match to the gunpowder
• Giant Canons hurled 1,200 pound balls at walls
• 1453 city fell to turks
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