The Second Rome

Byzantine Empire

His 101 - Week 4

Diocletion Divides Rome

Empire begins to crumble in 3rd century, following Pax Romana 285 CE Diocletian divides empire in half A devout pagan, leads largest persecution of Christians

Emperor Constantine
Emperor of the West from 306 - 324 CE Defeats Emperor of the East to rule entire Empire 324-337 CE Creates a new capitol, Nova Roma, at Byzantium Renamed Constantinople, becomes capital of Roman Empire in 330 CE

Constantine & Christianity

His mother St. Helena was a devout Christian Issued Edict of Milan in 313 CE, legalizing Christianity in Roman Empire Outlawed crucifiction and replaced with hanging Major patron of Churches, Holy Sites, Basilicas Convened Council of Nicea 325 CE Converted to Christianity on his death bed

Council of Nicea, 325 CE

First ever meeting of Christian Bishops Passed the Nicene Creed, outlining key Christian Beliefs Decided on calendar, holy days, books of the New Testament, Trinity Established orthodoxy, doctrine, requirements for clergy

Barbarian Invasions

Decline of Rome
Mongols move west, pushing tribes into Europe Attilla the Hun reaches Italian Peninsula by 450 CE Drought, Famine, crumbling economy, weakening culture, increase of slaves all weaken Rome from within 476 CE Odoacer the Ostrogoth sacks and conquers Rome Romulus Augustulus surrenders as last (Western) Roman Emperor

Sack of Rome

Byzantine Empire
Eastern Roman Empire becomes Byzantine Empire Capital City: Constantinople Language: Greek Religion: Christianity

Strategic Location

Western End of Silk Road

Emperor Justinian
Byzantine Emperor 527 565 CE Reconquered some lost Roman lands Established jurisprudence with Justinian Code Massive building campaign, including Built Hagia Sophia Increasing tension with Roman Pope

Justinians Conquests

Empress Theodora
Wife of Justinian One of his closest advisors, made many decisions Prevented overthrow of Justinian from Nika Revolt Advocated for womens rights, got laws passed Orthodox Saint today Supported Monophysites, the belief in singular, human nature of Jesus

Byzantine Mosaic

Byzantine Mosaic

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia
Built by Justinian from 532 - 537 CE Means Holy Wisdom in Greek Seat of Orthodox Patriarch Largest Dome in world for nearly 1,000 years Became a Catholic Church during Crusades (1204-1261) Became a Mosque when Ottoman Turks take the city (1453) Kemal Attaturk made it a museum in 1935

Hagia Sophia Interior

Greek Orthodox Style

Saint Sophia Cathedral, DC

Saint Sophia (interior)

Greek Orthodox Church

Priests could marry Patriarch as head of Church Bible translated into local languages Patriarch not more powerful than Emperor Adhere to original Nicene Creed

Great Schism
Also known as the East-West Schism 1054 CE, although it was a continuing development Roman Pope Leo IX tried to establish power over Greek Patriarch Roman Catholic Church & Greek Orthodox Church created

St. Cyril & St. Methodius

Byzantine Monk, scholar, theologian & linguist Converted the Slavs to Orthodox Christianity Invented the Cyrillic Alphabet from Greek Him & Brother Methodius are Patron Saints of Eastern Europe Spread Byzantine, Greek & Roman culture to Russia

Birth of Russia
Slavic Migrations to Eurasian Steppe Rurik the Rus invades and rules from 830 - 879 Varangian/Viking influence at capital Novgorod Greco-Roman influence of religion, language, architecture, etc. New capital at Kiev, then Moscow due to Mongol invasions

Cyrillic Alphabet

Russian Orthodox

Eurasia, 1015

Fall of Constantinople
Crusaders capture & hold city from 1206 - 1261 May 29th, 1453 - Ottoman Empire seizes besieged city of Constantinople Ottoman Empire had rapidly grown in power in less than 200 years, frequent wars w/ Byzantines Exodus of Greek scholars to Western Europe, stimulating Renaissance