What was the Byzantine Empire?

Do Now:

Constantinople had experienced no change in authority since the Roman Empire. Its people still considered themselves Roman.

What implications might this have for their world view?

Objectives

• Gain a contextual understanding of the Byzantine Empire at the dawn of the crusades.

• Consider the most important features and how they may impact upon relations with other peoples.

Romans• The Byzantine Empire

considered itself to be the heir of Rome.

• They maintained their claims to all Roman territory, especially in the East.

• As recently as the 6th century Byzantium had tried to reclaim the Western Empire as well.

Territory Loss• The Byzantine Empire suffered serious

territorial losses in the centuries preceding the first crusade.

• Steppe tribes such as Magyars, Bulgars and Pechenegs had weakened their hold over the Balkans and north of the Black Sea.

• Arabs and other Muslim tribes had taken all of the ‘Holy Land’ and North Africa.

• Turkish tribes had taken nearly all of Anatolia.

• Normans had kicked the Byzantines out of Southern Italy.

Neighbours• Byzantine foreign policy was dictated by an

ability and desire to dominate its neighbours.

• Culturally they converted the Bulgars, Serbs and Russians to orthodox Christianity.

• They frequently made use of their neighbours as mercenaries to fight on other borders of the Empire.

• They believed themselves culturally and intellectually superior to all of their neighbours.

• Control of Constantinople and local politics was of much greater prestige than control of outlying regions.

Religion• The Patriarch of Constantinople

was the head of the Orthodox world.

• He considered himself superior, or at least equal, to the Pope.

• The Orthodox world looked to Constantinople much like the Catholic world did to Rome.

• The Orthodox world included most of the Balkans, the Rus, Georgia, Armenia and Syria.

Culture• Byzantium considered itself to be

the height of culture.

• Hagia Sophia was easily the most impressive church in the world, dwarfing St Peters.

• Byzantine artists and architects were in high demand throughout the Mediterranean and Russia.

• The classical knowledge of Ancient Rome and Greece was preserved in Byzantium.

What are the key features of

C11th Byzantium?

• A single paragraph.

• Broad themes more important than detail.

• Swift revision resource.

What were the attitudes of Byzantines?

• Examine the primary sources.• Infer what Byzantines thought about:

a) The Islamic Worldb) Western Europec) Themselves

“Such a one was Muhammad, your false prophet of the Antichrist. If you believe me as I testify to you today by heaven and earth – for I am your friend – abandon his fables, that you may not be punished along with him.” When they had heard him utter these and many other words about God, they were seized by astonishment and fury, but decided to be patient, thinking he was out of his mind on account of his illness. After he had recovered from his illness, however, he started to cry out even louder: “Anathema on Muhammad and his fables and on everyone who believes in them!” Thereupon he was chastised with the sword and so became a martyr.

Theophanes’ account of Peter of Maiouma’s martyrdom

The crazy and deluded fellow [Muhammad!] taught those who believed on him, that he who slays an enemy or is slain by an enemy enters into paradise, and all the rest of his nonsense. And they pray, moreover, to the star of Aphrodite, which they call Koubar, and in their supplication cry out: ‘Alla wa Koubar’, that is, ‘God and Aphrodite’.

Consantine Porphyrogenitus – De Administrando Imperio

He [Leo of Tripoli] was a sinister and thoroughly evil person, who flaunted a style of behaviour singularly appropriate to the wild animal after which he was named and for whose ferocious ways and ungovernable temper he was more than a match. Assuredly, you yourself also know the man by reputation, a reputation which celebrates his wickedness with the claim that he outshone all previous paragons of impiety by descending to such depths of madness as to gaze insatiably upon the spilling of human blood and to love nothing better than the slaughter of Christians.

John Kaminiates’ account of a Muslim leader.

The Ishmaelites are indeed dominated by Dionysos and Eros; they indulge readily in every kind of sexual licence, and if they are circumcised in the flesh they are certainly not so in their passions. In fact, the Ishmaelites are nothing more than slaves – trebly slaves – of the vices of Aphrodite.Anna Comnena, Alexiad

the Latin race is always very fond of money, but more especially when it is bent on raiding a country; it then loses its reason and gets beyond control.Anna Comnena, Alexiad

Not only did the Latins not obey him, but they even placed their troops more closely. Seeing this, most of those who were standing on either side of the Emperor proceeded to draw back. But he sat on unmoved, consoling and gently chiding them in a way; this demeanor filled all with amazement. However, when be saw that the Latins approached the walls quite shamelessly and would not listen to sensible advice, he sent first for his son-in-law, Nicephorus. ..The nobles joyfully fulfilled the Emperor's bidding; threw open the gates, and now galloping at full speed against the enemy, and now checking the horses, they killed many of them while only a few of their own party were wounded on this day. Anna Comnena recounts a conflict between Byzantine and Frankish forces