The Byzantine Empire

Geography, Trading, and Significance

How does it come to be?

As the Roman Empire is declining, the emperor divides the empire in half thinking that it will help them govern. (Western and Eastern Roman Empires)

The Western Roman Empire falls to barbarians but the Eastern Roman Empire flourishes and is renamed the Byzantine Empire.

Emperor Constantine creates a new capital at the former Greek city of Byzantium, which he renames Constantinople.

Basic Geography

Located at the bridge between Eastern Europe and the Middle East

Surrounded by the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, the Gulf of Cyprus, and the Caspian Sea

Capital: Constantinople

Located right between the Black Sea and the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

Trading

Most trade between Asia, Europe, and North Africa had to pass through the Byzantine Empire.

Due to the location, the Byzantine Empire became a very wealthy empire for a time.

Pottery

MarbleUsed for statues, monuments, buildings, columns, pavement,

furniture, or even for alters in churches

Metalworking

Household objects such as basins, washing sets, and brass buckets.

The Silk Road

Network of interlinking trade routes

Used camels or boats as transportation

Caravans formed for protection against bandits along the route

Natural dangers such as heat from the desert as well as sandstorms

Expensive to trade on the Silk Road

Significance

The Byzantine Empire served two very important historical functions…

Preservation of Roman and Greek Culture

When the Western Roman Empire collapsed many libraries and places of learning were destroyed among the chaos.

Because the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) survived, they preserved much of the Greek and Roman knowledge.

Most significant was the preservation of Roman law by Emperor Justinian .

Justinian deciphered the Roman law codes and it is these law codes that have become the basis for the legal systems of many Western countries like the United States.

Cultural Diffusion

The Byzantine Empire helped preserve Roman and Greek culture and Christianity but it also spread these ideas to other parts of the world.

During the Crusades, Western Europeans who were making their way to the Holy Land had to pass through the Byzantine Empire.

As a result they brought many of those ancient Greek and Roman accomplishments back to Western Europe.

Fall of the Byzantine Empire

Collapses in 1452 due to invasions by the Ottomans

Fortunately, the Byzantine Empire had served its purpose as a bridge to the past and to the achievements of the Muslims.