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Lands & Trading Routes of the Byzantine Empire

Lands & Trading Routes of the Byzantine Empire. “It’s very big and very important” Constantinople is the hub - the crossroads. People of the Empire. Descended from many ancient peoples. Most of them farmers who lived in one room huts made from wood or mud bricks.

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Lands & Trading Routes of the Byzantine Empire

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  1. Lands & Trading Routes of the Byzantine Empire “It’s very big and very important” Constantinople is the hub - the crossroads

  2. People of the Empire • Descended from many ancient peoples. • Most of them farmers who lived in one room huts made from wood or mud bricks. • They raised grapes, olives and wheat or herded sheep and lived on cheese, bread and vegetables cooked in olive oil. • Constantinople “The City” was home to wealthy and powerful, who lived in stone mansions, feasted on meat cooked in garlic sauces & enjoyed fine wines.

  3. Imports and Exports • Trade Routes connected 3 continents. • Not only traded in goods - Christian missionaries traveled the empire. • Art & Architecture spread to distant lands • Preserved by scholars - works of ancient Greeks (Homer, Plato, Archimedes ,Euclid) went on to influence western Europe • Byzantine legal code (laws on divorce, marriage, justice & property became reflected in the legal systems of Europe - still today!!

  4. Exports India - spices, pepper, jewels Africa - ivory and gold Russia - honey, wood, furs Spain - cork, grain France - fine wines, wool England - tin, iron Imports India - ivory Africa - silk (after stealing it from Chinese) Russia- art/architecture Spain- bronze church doors France- silk England- works of ancient Greeks Exports and Imports

  5. Protection for the Empire • As a crossroads of trade and culture protection from foreign invaders was crucial. • The side of Constantinople not protected by water had 3 parallel walls in increasing heights. The highest being 40-70 feet high and 12-40 thick. Watchtowers were built in the middle wall - as a warning devise. • Golden Horn - a chain stretched across deterred enemy ships docking • Greek Fire - 1st secret weapon in history. Petroleum based mixture could be thrown in pots or fired through tubes. When wet, it took fire and couldn’t be extinguished with water. • Bureau of Barbarians - military spies (CIA)

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