Chapter 13 Byzantine 15/10/2007 18:39:00
The early Byzantine empire:
Name from Byzantion, small strategicvillage, with potential to control strait to Black Sea, Constantine designatedsite to be new capital.
•
Procopius historic accounts included story of 2 monks who camefrom Persia which helped to start silk industry in Byzantine. Onlyclassical society to survive turmoil
•
The later Roman empire and Byzantium: Stayed relatively stable
o
Fifth century, eastern half of empire remained intact whilewest crumbled; inherited Roman values but built statesignificantly different from classical Romans
Challenges: Sasanids and Germans
Responded by concentrated on maintainingintegrity of wealthy eastern portion
Highly centralized state
Emperor with aura of divinity—Caesaropapism
•
Constantine Christian so can’t claim divine
Large and complex bureaucracy –
Byzantine
–unnecessarily complex
Byzantine court
Emperors wore bejeweled crowns and silk dyedpurple (reserved for imperial use)
Splendor with technology, great respect
•
Justinian/
Sleepless emperor
(527-565 C.E.) and his legacy;Theodora (empress); both came from secular roots and smart
o
Rebuilt Constantinople, including Hagia Sophia (dome)
o
Codified Roman law_
Corpus iuris civilis
(
The Body of the Civil Law
) – influenced civil law throughout W. Europe
o
Sent Belisarius to reconquer the western Roman empire(didn't last) – needed too many resources and Ravennabecame headquarters thus possessed art and architecture
Showed that classical Rome was beyond recovery
•
Islamic conquests and Byzantine revival
o
The emergence of the Islamic state, seventh century
Arab peoples conquered the Sasanid empire and part of Byzantium
Prolonged sieges of Constantinople by Islamic armies
Byzantium survived partly because of Greek fire
o
Byzantine society reorganized
Provinces (
themes
) under generals – responsible fordefense and administration
Strengthened by themes system, expanded itsinfluence
•
Basil II(976-1025CE) took Basil, blindedpeople
Armies of free peasants helped agricultural economy bygiving them land
o
Byzantium and western Europe: ecclesiastical and politicaltensions
Constantinople bowed to Caesaropapist emperor inGreek while church of Rome conducted in Latin rejectedclaims to ecclesiastical matters
West – unlearned, uncouth East – learned but bad
Germans claim emperor of west, which insulted east
o
Liudprand of Cremona – Ambassador of Otto whom hated theByzantine’s stuff
Byzantine economy and society:
Byzantium dominated all sorts of affairsin E. Med. due to strong economy and good land
•
Rural economy and society: Egypt big supplies to Byzantium tillArab conquests then Danube region and Anatolia
o
Large agricultural base to support cities
o
Economy strongest when large class of free peasants(
themes
) existed
Contributed more tax due to exemptions
Increased pool of recruits of military
o
Economy weakened when large landholders consolidated andmade peasants dependent
o
Arab invasions opened up lands and afforded peasantsopportunity to rebuild small holdings
•
Industry and trade: wealthy due to productive and Constantinople’scenter of trade
o
Constantinople was major site of crafts and industry
Glass, linen, textiles, gems, jewelry, gold, and silver
Silk developed into major industry in sixth century;secrets came from China: Government monitoredclosely
o
Constantinople was clearinghouse for trade
Bezant was the standard currency of Mediterraneanbasin
Western anchor of trade route revived silk roads
o
Banks and partnerships supported commercial economy
•
Urban life: The City – heart is imperial palace
o
Woman aren’t permitted into wine flowing parties due to lossof honor later own…
o
Housing in Constantinople varied widely by class
o
Attractions of Constantinople: baths, taverns, theaters
Hippodrome used for mass entertainment
Chariot races most popular; Greens and Blues rivalry
Classical heritage and Orthodox Christianity:
First Christian emperor of Roman empire gave name and faith to Constantinople but developeddifferent lines from Roman due to influence of Greece and divided later.
•
The legacy of classical Greece
o
Official language went from Latin to Greek (original Latin)
Drew inspirations from N. Testament or Greek writings
o
State-organized school system trained workforce: Mostpeople had education due to need of bureaucrats
Primary education: reading, writing, grammar
Later education: classical Greek, literature, philosophy,science
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