Byzantine Empire
a great empire that straddled two continents, Europe and Asia, and lasted from about 500 to 1453 C.E.
Constantinople
city on the eastern edge of Europe that the emperor Constantine made the capital of the Byzantine Empire in 330 C.E.
Eastern Orthodox Church
a Christian religion that arose in the Byzantine Empire
Justinian I
great byzantine emperor who reigned from 527 to 565 C.E.
Theodora
Justinian I's wife who urged him to stay and fight when there was rioting in Constantinople.
Public works
construction projects built by a government for public use, such as buildings, roads, and bridges
Justinian's Code
- revised outdated laws from the Roman Empire (Roman law)
Patriarch
in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the bishop of an important city
Liturgy
a sacred rite of public worship
Icon
-a type of religious image typically painted on a small wooden panel and considered sacred by Eastern Orthodox Christians
Schism
a formal division in a church or religious body
What made Constantinople an ideal place location for a capital?
How did the location of the capital help the Byzantine Empire prosper ?
Constantinople is surrounded by water on three sides and was the crossroads of Europe and Asia
Constantinople prospered because it linked east and west through sea and land trade routes
Who was Justinian I?
He was emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 527 to 565. After a riot that almost destroyed Constantinople, Justinian rebuilt the city. He also reclaimed some lost territory. He created a systematic body of law.
Who was Theodora?
Why was she important to the history of the Byzantine Empire?
Theodora was a peasant who married the emperor's nephew (Justinian).
She helped change the laws that gave women more rights. She also convinced Justinian to stay and fight during the riots in Constantinople.
What role did the Eastern Orthodox Church play in the Byzantine Empire? Consider the church's influence in government, architecture, and art.
Government: The Byzantines viewed the emperor as the head of government and as the living representation of God and Jesus Christ. The church played a central role in daily life. Monasteries and convents cared for the poor and the sick.
Architecture: Churc
What disagreements led to the conflict between medieval Europe and the Byzantine Empire? Describe each disagreement.
Iconoclasm: Some Christians in the east believed that people were wrongly worshipping the icons. Byzantine emperor Leo III banned the use of icons. This angered people in the west. (The Byzantine Empire lifted the ban on icons in 843)
Charlemagne: In 800
What ultimately led to the permanent division between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church?
It occurred when Pope Leo IX excommunicated Cerularius and then Cerularius excommunicated the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church from the eastern Orthodox Church.