The Byzantine Empire

(Ex-Eastern Roman Empire)

 Characteristics of
Constantinople
City was heavily fortified
Water on three side plus a wall was built to
protect the fourth side.
Multi-ethnic city (Cosmopolitan)
Greeks, Persians, Italians, Turks, Slavs,
Armenians, and Jews lived in the city
The citizens spoke Greek, but Latin was
the official language.
Think about a city as important
as Constantinople at this time.
(Economic and cultural Center)
Describe it: Advantages and
disadvantages.
 The reign of Justinian
• Justinian (emperor in A.D. 527-AD 565) ruled
with the help of Theodora.
• With Justinian, the empire reached its greatest
size.
• Strong military force and strong navy (Greek
fire). Belisarius was general of the army.
• During Justinian’s reign, Hagia Sophia was
built.
• Justinian’s Code – which organized all the laws
of ancient Rome.
 Justinian Code of Law
“Things which are common to all and not capable of being
owned are: the air, running water, the sea, and the seashores.” -
Justinian Code
Women’s rights Women can own property, make
contracts and will and bring a lawsuit.
Robbery Robbery was not a crime. The victim
could sue the robber for up to four times

the value of the stolen property.

Failure to pay debts People owed something had to the
person owing them to gain debt back.

Murder Murder was punished by banishment.

Inheritance Women could not inherit property from
their husbands unless it was provided in
a will. Children received equal amounts
of the father’s estate.
 Justinian Code of Law
• Laws were fairer to women. They could own
property and raise their own children after their
husbands died.
• Children allowed to choose their own marriage
partners.
• Slavery was legal and slaves must obey their
masters.
• Punishments were detailed and fit the crime
• His work inspired the modern concept and, indeed,
the very spelling of "justice".
Justinian code vs. Peruvian
civil/penal code
1.) How are the rights of women similar under the
Justinian Code and current Peruvian law?
2.) What is the difference in the treatment of robbery
between the two law systems?
3.) Under which law system could women benefit
most from an inheritance? Why?
4.) Which current law has basically unchanged when
compared to the Justinian Code?
5.) Which legal system is “softer” on murderers?
 ASPECT BYZANTINE EMPIRE PERU TODAY

Women’s rights  Women can own property.

 Women can sign contracts
 Women can bring a lawsuit.
Robbery  Robbery was not a crime.
 The victim could sue the
robber for up to four times
the value of the stolen
property.
Failure to pay debts  People owed something had
to the person owing them
to gain debt back.
Murder  Murder was punished by
banishment.

Inheritance  Women could not inherit

property from their
husbands unless it was
provided in a will.
 Children received equal
amounts of the father’s
estate.
 Byzantine culture
Cyrillic alphabet: alphabet created by
Cyril and Methodius (Christian
missionaries) to teach the Bible to Slavs
in central and Eastern Europe.
Art: mosaics (pictures made from small
pieces of enamel, glass or stone). Main
theme: religion
Architecture: Hagia Sophia
Architecture: Hagia Sophia
 The Christian church splits
Church leaders in the West and East had different ideas about
church practices (Iconoclastic Controversy). The Pope
condemned the prohibition of the veneration of icons and
punished iconoclasts with excommunication. This angered
the patriarch of Constantinople in the East. These differences
led to a final division in the Christian church.

Christian church

West East
Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Leader Leader
Pope Patriarch of Constantinople
 The End of the Byzantine
Empire
The Byzantine empire collapsed in 1453
when forces from the Muslim Ottoman
Empire surrounded and conquered
Constantinople.
The ancient Christian city was renamed
Istanbul and became the capital of the
Ottoman Empire.
 Conclusions
Justinian legacy
Justinian code: covered areas such as crime,
marriage, property, and slavery. Preserved
the Roman idea that people should be ruled
by laws rather by the whims of leaders.
Able advisers: Theodora (Justinian’s wife)
fought for women’s rights (changed divorced
laws to benefit women)