Byzantine Empire Map

Byzantine, Islamic and Middle Ages Key Events

526 – 1204 Byzantine Era 526 – St Benedict Establishes Monasticism 527-565 - Reign of Eastern Emperor Justinian and his wife

Theodora 622 – Mohammed establishes Islam when fleeing from Mecca 700 – Traditional date of first book in English – Beowulf 711-715 – Conquest of North Africa and Spain by Muslims/

Arab rule established in and around Mediterranean 726 – 843 – Iconoclasm – movement against the veneration

(worship) of icons in Churches 768 – 814 – Reign of Charlemagne Dec. 25, 800 – Charlemagne becomes first Holy Roman

Emperor 800- 900 – Vikings raid northern Europe, Muslims invade

Mediterranean, Magyars invade in the East

Byzantine, Islamic and Middle Ages Key Events

800 – the book 1001 Arabian Nights first written 843 – restoration of the images to Eastern churches 1054 – Break between Eastern Orthodox and Roman

Catholic Church (The Great Schism) 1071 – Conquest of eastern Byzantine provinces by Seljuks 1095-1099 – First Crusade called by Pope Urban II (Deus le

volt!) 1095-1307 – Era of the Crusades 1118 - First branch of warrior monks established – The

Knights Templar – soon followed by the Hospitallers and Teutonic Orders

1204 – Crusaders pillage Constantinople 1304 – Establishment of the Inquisition during the

Albigensian Crusade in France 1453 – Fall of Constantinople to the Turks – end of

Byzantine Era

Byzantine Art Characteristics

Onion Domes Pointed Arches Gilded Mosaics Ornate interiors Patterned and inlaid floors Slim people with small pointed feet Small almond shaped faces, huge eyes

Map: Early Byzantine and medieval Constantinople.

Justinian as world conqueror (Barberini Ivory)mid-6th centuryivory1 ft. 1 1/2 in. x 10 1/2 in.Most successful Byzantine Emperor – almost reconquered entire Western Empire

Byzantine Art Hagia Sophia 532-537 Istanbul, Turkey Artist: Anthemius and

Isodorus Built under the

direction of Justinian Largest church of its

time; this is the first use of a dome with pendentives

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Byzantine Art San Vitale 526 – 547 Ravenna, Italy Typical octagonal

shape occurs in Byzantine style, plain exterior, extravagant interiors

Byzantine Art Interior San Vitale 526 – 547 Ravenna, Italy The walls of the

interior are covered from floor to ceiling with mosaics

The amount of light and angle determines the colors and patterns you can see

Byzantine Art Justinian Mosaic 547 Ravenna, Italy Byzantine mosaics

are typically very colorful with a heavy use of gold – note Justinian has a halo (not a saint)

He holds the bread (the host)

Byzantine Art Theodora Mosaic 547 Ravenna, Italy Note the use of

gold – note Theodora’s halo – she was no saint

She carried the cup of wine

Byzantine. The Healing of the Blind, wall mosaic, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna. ca. 500 CE.

Byzantine. St. Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai. ca. 548–65 CE.

Transfiguration of Jesusapse mosaic, Church of the VirginMonastery of Saint CatherineMount Sinai, Egyptca. 565mosaicMonastery begin to pop up in remote places so that monks could pray in peace

Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George, icon6th or early 7th centuryencaustic on wood2 ft. 3 in. x 1 ft. 7 3/8 in.Byzantine style included almond shaped heads and pointed feet

Katholikon and Church of the TheotokosHosios Loukas, GreeceKatholikon early 11th century, Church of the Theotokos, 10th centuryGreek Byzantine usually contained multi colored stones

Baptism of ChristKatholikonHosios Loukas, Greece11th centurymosaicNote the water effect

Pantocratordome mosaic in the Church of the DormitionDaphni, Greececa. 1090-1100 mosaicMosaics begin to use lots of gold

Crucifixion in the Church of the DormitionDaphni, Greececa. 1090-1100 mosaicConsidered the Byzantine mosaic masterpiece

Byzantine Art St. Mark’s Square

(Piazza San Marco) Begun 1063 Venice, Italy The bell tower was

rebuilt in 19th century due to its collapse

Basilica is typical Byzantine style – onion domes, mosaic decorations

San Marco Basilica1063Venice, ItalyOnion domes are typical as are exterior mosaics – heavy eastern influence

Byzantine Art Interior of Saint Mark’s

(San Marco) 1063 Venice, Italy Heavy use of gold

mosaic Intricately decorated

marble patterned floors In typical Byzantine

style in Greek Cross plan

Church was built for a large community

Byzantine Art God Creates Eve 1200 Venice, Italy Mosaic work becomes

very intricate with heavy use of gold, but style is still decayed

Biblical stories were told in scenes like these

Pala d’Orofrom Saint Mark’s CathedralVenice, Italyca. 1105gold cloisonné with precious stonesMasterpiece of craftwork

ApseCathedral at MonrealeMonreale, Sicily, Italyca. 1180-1190 mosaicEntire apse is mosaic filled

David composing the PsalmsParis Psalterca. 950-970tempera on vellum14 1/8 in. x 10 1/4 in.Best example of Byzantine Illuminated Manuscripts

Anastasisapse fresco in parekklision of the Church of Christ in ChoraConstantinpole, (Istanbul), Turkeyca. 1310-1320 frescoAnastasis means Resurrection

IconostasisIcons became a major controversy in the Church and it actually caused a division – as the fear of worshiping idols rather than deity occurred

Early Christian and Byzantine Art

The end . . . Next lecture … Early Middle Ages