Chapter 9

Constantinople

• Who: Romans & Byzantines, Constantine• What: capital city of the Byzantine Empire • Where: in between Black & Mediterranean Seas & Asia /

Europe; Byzantine Empire• When: 330-1453• Why: the city had an excellent harbor, was guarded on 3

sides by water; Emperors built an elaborate system of walls to protect the city; was the center of key trade routes that linked Asia & Europe; was the connecting point of 2 main seas & 2 continents = everyone wanted it = war

Constantinople

• Who: Romans, Byzantines, Constantine• What: capital of the Byzantine Empire• Where: In b/n Black & Med seas; in b/n Asia &

Europe; Byzantine Empire, ME • When: 330-1453• Why: Constantine named the capital of the

Byzantine Empire after himself; vital center of the Byzantine Empire; heavily fortified city; key trading & business center- linked trade routes from Asia to Europe; reminder of Roman heritage

Justinian (6th)

• Who: Byzantine Emperor• What: leader that wanted to revive ancient Rome

by recovering lands that had been lost • Where: Byzantine Empire • When: 527-565• Why: was unsuccessful in recovering land; after the

riots he rebuilt the Empire & his great triumph was the Hagia Sophia; reformed the law (Justinian’s Code); ruled as an autocrat w. complete control

Justinian

• Who: Emperor of Byzantine Empire• What: was determined to revive Ancient Rome by recovering

land that was taken by Germanic invaders when Rome fell • Where: Constantinople, Byzantine Empire• When: 527-565• Why: The Byzantine reached its peak in power under his

reign; he lost the land he attempted to gain in N Africa, Iberian Peninsula, Italy; his great triumph was rebuilding Hagia Sophia; reformed the law (Justinian’s code); ruled as an autocrat; ruled the church- Christ’s co-ruler on earth; his wife Theodora helped him rule

• 313- Constantine made Christianity the legal religion & rebuilt Constantinople

• 527- Justinian becomes ruler of the Byzantine Empire

• 532- riots & fires swept Constantinople making Justinian want to rebuild

Justinian’s Code (6th) • Who: Byzantines, Justinian• What: a collection of laws, Corpus Juris Civilis

“Body of Civil Law”, that included laws passed by Roman assemblies or Emperors, and legal writings of Roman judges; law code of Byzantine Empire

• Where: Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire• When: 500s-1100s• Why:

Justinian’s code

• Who: Romans, Byzantines, Justinian• What: a massive collection that included laws by Roman

assemblies & legal writings of Roman judges; Body of Civil Law for the Byzantine Empire

• Where: Byzantine Empire; Eastern Roman Empire• When: 500s- 1100s• Why: this law code impacted WE in that they modeled their

laws on this & it helped to strengthen & centralize their power; led to legal thinkers creating international law; Justinian used this to unify his power under one central power

Autocrat

• Who: Justinian• What: a sole ruler with complete authority• WherE: Byzantine Empire• When: 500s- 1100s• Why: Justinian used the law to unify the

Empire under his control; ruler of both political & religious spheres

Autocrat (6th)

• Who: Justinian• What: Sole ruler w. complete authority• Where: Byzantine Empire• When: 500s-1100s• Why: combined both political power &

spiritual authority; had control of the church as well as the gov’t

Theodora

• Who: Justinian’s wife• What: she was an advisor & co-ruler to the

emperor Justinian• Where: Constantinople, Byzantine Empire• When: 497-548• Why: she constantly challenged the Emperor’s

authority to pursue her own authority- she convinced him to stay in Constantinople when it was under siege; very good politician

Theodora (6th)

• Who: Justinian’s wife • What: advised her husband & pursued her own

policies; was a shrewd politician• Where: Byzantine Empire• When: 497-548• Why: she helped her husband become a better

ruler; she forced Justinian to stay in Constantinople during the riots of 532- he then rebuilt into a great empire after

Patriarch

• Who: Emperor & Church official• What: pious church official in the Byzantine

Empire; leader of the Eastern Orthodox church • Where: Constantinople, Byzantine Empire• When: 330-1453• Why: Different from WE’s Catholic church-

could marry & didn’t have complete control like the Pope; he controlled church affairs & was the highest church official

Patriarch (6th)

• Who: Byzantine Emperor & ruler of the Eastern Orthodox church

• WhaT: highest church official of the Eastern Orthodox church in Constantinople

• Where: Byzantine Empire• When: 330-1613• Why: the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire would appoint

a leader right under him that would help the Emperor make decisions about the church; this leader was similar to the Catholic Pope in the West except he could marry & didn’t have complete control