The Byzantine Empire

In this lesson, students will be able to identify significant characteristics of the Byzantine Empire.

Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:

Eastern Roman Empire

Orthodox Christianity

Byzantine Influence on Russia

The Byzantine Empire was formerly theEastern Roman Empire.

The Eastern Roman Empire

• The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D.

• However, the eastern portion of the empire survived. It began the Byzantine Empire.

• The Byzantine Empire survived for one thousand years after the fall of Rome.

The Byzantine Empire survived for onethousand years after the fall of Rome.

A Natural Location for Trade

• The Byzantine Empire was located between Europe and Asia.

• It was a natural location for trade.

• The Byzantine Empire became wealthy from trade.

The Byzantine Empire became wealthyfrom trade.

Orthodox Christianity

• The Byzantines developed their own form of Christianity, Orthodox Christianity.

• Greek is the official language of the Orthodox Christian Church.

• Orthodox Christians do not recognize the Pope in Rome as their leader.

In 1054 A.D., the Orthodox ChristianChurch officially split from the RomanCatholic Church in the Great Schism.

The Hagia Sophia was a Byzantine Church and an architectural marvel.

Byzantine Influence on Russia

• The Byzantine Empire greatly influenced Russia.

• Byzantine missionaries established Orthodox Christian churches in Russia.

• Byzantine missionaries even created an alphabet, the Cyrillic alphabet, to write the Bible in Russian.

Do you see the Byzantine influencein this Russian Orthodox Church?

Justinian

• Byzantine Emperors held absolute power.

• The Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, collected all Roman written laws.

• The Code of Justinian is a collection of Roman written law.

Justinian was a Byzantine Emperor. Heordered the collection of Roman law.

Questions for Reflection:

• What became of the Eastern Roman Empire with the fall of Rome in 476 A.D.?

• Why was the Byzantine Empire able to prosper from trade?

• How did the Orthodox Christian Church differ from the Roman Catholic Church?

• Who was Justinian and what did he do?

• What was the Hagia Sophia?

Islam

In this lesson, students will be able to identify characteristics of Islam. Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:

MuhammadThe Five Pillars of the Faith

Muslim (Moslem)Koran (Qu’ran)

Saudi Arabiais a country

in the MiddleEast. It is alsothe birthplaceof the world

religion, Islam.

Muhammad

• Muhammad was born in Mecca, Arabia.

• He became involved in the Arabian caravan trade.

• He eventually married a wealthy widow and spent many hours meditating and praying in the caves around Mecca.

Muhammad wasa religious man.

He frequentlymeditated and prayed in the caves around

Mecca.

One day,Muhammad

believedthat God

spoke to himthrough

an angel.

By the 600s A.D., a new religionwas founded.

The religion of Islamis based on therevelations of the Prophet Muhammad.

Monotheism• Muhammad believed that the one, true

God had spoken to him. Muhammad became a monotheist.

• Muhammad believed that the God who spoke to him was the same God of the Jews and Christians.

• Muhammad believed that he was the Seal of the Prophets or God’s final prophet.

The Koran orQu’ran is the holy book of

Islam. Muslimsor Moslems

(the followers ofIslam) believethat the words

of the Koran areGod’s words to

Muhammad.

At one point, Muhammad and his followershad to flee Mecca and go to Medina. This

is called the Hegira or Hijra.

The Five Pillars of the Faith• The Five Pillars of the Faith are five critical

beliefs or actions for Muslims or followers of Muhammad.

• The Five Pillars are:To believe in One God

To Pray Five Times a Day Facing MeccaTo Give Alms or Charity to the Poor

To Fast During the Month of Ramadan from Sunrise to Sunset

To Make a Pilgrimage to Mecca if Able

Muslimsare notallowedto drinkalcohol.

Muslims are not allowed to eat pork.

The religion of Islam allows a manto marry four wives. It allows polygamy.

Questions for Reflection:

• Who was Muhammad?

• What is the Koran?

• List the Five Pillars of the Faith.

• Who is a Muslim and what are Muslims forbidden to do?

• What was the Hegira?

• What do Jews, Christians, and Muslims have in common?

The Golden Age of Islamic Culture

In this lesson, students will be able to identify characteristics of the Islamic golden age. Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:

Golden AgeIslamic Advances in Science and Mathematics

MosquesGeometric Designs

A golden age is a time of peace, prosperity,and great cultural achievements.

Golden Age• Many cultures experienced golden ages,

including the Greeks and Guptas.

• A golden age is a time of peace, prosperity, and great cultural achievements.

• An Islamic golden age occurred during the Abbasid dynasty (8th century to 13th century).

Islam spread through conquest and trade.The Abbasid dynasty ruled a vast empire.

The Islamic Golden Age• The Muslims experienced a golden age.

• During the Islamic golden age, there were great advances in mathematics, medicine, architecture, and the arts.

• It is important to remember that under the Abbasids, Islam became a blending of many cultures leading to great achievements.

Muhammad forbade making images of Godor people. Islamic artists frequently used

geometric designs in their works ofart.

Muslim rulers built beautiful mosques. Amosque is an Islamic house of worship.

Muslimdoctors

discoveredthat bloodmoves to and from

theheart.

Muslims borrowed the concept of zerofrom India and developed Arabic numerals.

Muslimmathematicians

alsomade

advancesin algebra

and geometry.

While much of Islamic literature was basedon the Qur’an, stories like Aladdin were

popular too.

The vast Abbasid trading network encouraged cultural diffusion.

Questions for Reflection:• What is a golden age?• List three cultures that experienced golden

ages.• Why did Islamic civilization experience a

golden age?• What is a mosque?• List two advances in mathematics and

science that occurred during the Islamic golden age.

• Why did Islamic artists rely on geometric designs?