byzantium and christendom. introduction by 1300, europe and russia are christian division- eastern...
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Byzantium and Christendom
Introduction By 1300, Europe and Russia are Christian
Division- eastern half- Byzantium- Eastern Orthodox western half- fragmented-
Roman Catholic
Western church & society was more rural
Christianity Contracted in Africa & Asia due to Islam
Islam took Jerusalem in 7th century
Most willingly converted
Christianity’s success as minority religion depended on tolerance of local rulers
Less tolerance as time passed
Byzantium Builds on Roman past
No clear starting point
330- Constantine builds Constantinople
Empire has 2 capitals
Division of Christendom
Eastern half lasts 1000 years after fall of Rome
Strategically located, walled city, near the water
Byzantium (Con’t)
Sought to restore the glory of Greco-Roman culture
Referred to themselves as “Romans”
Clothing- robes and sandals
State Structure Western Rome, Africa, and Middle East lost
Generals had authority to raise armies from local peasants
Very centralized authority
Emperor’s role as God’s representative
Caesaropapism- both a Caesar and Pope of Orthodox church
Legitimized rule & gave common identity
Aristocrats held gov’t positions
Territory shrank around 1095- Crusades
Falls to Ottoman Turks in 1453
Christian Conflict Orthodox- “right thinking”
Churches had icons- religious images
Doctrine differences with Roman Catholics
Turn doctrine into Greek philosophical arguments
1054- both churches excommunicate one another
Crusades created more conflict
Byzantium and the World Conflicts with Arabs
Weapon- Greek fire
Important role in trade
Gold coin widely used
Products in high demand
Spread culture to Balkans & Russia
Cyrillic alphabet spread by missionaries
Conversion of Russia
Kiev Rus emerged in 9th century
Created via trade
High level of social stratification
Regional religions until Prince Vladimir’s conversion
Unifying identity for the people
Moscow- 3rd Rome?
Western Europe
Margins of civilization until 1500
Shift from Rome to West & North
Series of kingdoms ruled, eventually forming states
Roman law adopted
Charlemagne & Carolingian Empire-
Roman bureaucracy & crowned new
emperor of Rome in 800- Holy Roman
Empire
New Kingdoms
Feudalism
Protection
Catholic Church fills administrative duties
Latin continues ^
Rulers convert, gain protection
Catholicism embraces native practices
Conflict w/ kings & Church
Change in the West
Climate change
High Middle Ages- 1000-1300
35 million in 1000 80 million in 1350
Environmental changes
Cities were smaller than other civilizations’ cities
Urbanization- slow, only about 10%
Develop guilds- Hanseatic League was one
Women’s role in economy grows, then shrinks
Men- providers, not fighters
Crusades After 1000, Western Europe on the rise
Byzantium under pressure
Increasing contact with India, China, and Mongolia
1095- Crusades begin
Fighters go to Heaven
Largely decentralized project
Main goal- Jerusalem
Spain brought into Christendom, Byzantium weakened, Popes strengthen their position, Cultural diffusion
Deepens divide between Catholic & Orthodox
European Advancements
Complete chart
Many farming advancements
New water-driven windmill
Advances in weapons, ship-building, and navigation
Politics
Slowly develop states
No single empire- geographic, linguistic, and cultural barriers
Frequent wars drove gunpowder revolution
Rivalries stimulate technology development
More separation of Church & state than the East
Merchants had autonomy
Led to capitalism?
Reason & Faith
Greek philosophy’s influence
Stoicism- reason, indifference, endurance
Renewal of interest in Greek texts- especially Aristotle
Application of reason to non-religious subjects
Lays foundation for Scientific Revolution
Byzantium- largely against this movement
Islam- translates many Greek texts
Does science reinforce faith or seek to destroy it?
Legacy
Crusades
Christianity’s split
Constant military campaigns- WWI and WWII
Religion &/vs. science
Separation of Church and state
The rise of the dominant power of 18th-21st centuries