The Byzantine Empire

1. The Byzantine Empire One God, One Empire, One Religion

2. The Eastern Empire • Imperial power shifted to the Byzantine Empire

3. Constantinople • Constantinople became the sole capitol of the empire

4. The Reign of Justinian • Emperor Justinian (r. 537-565) and his wife Empress Theodora

5. The Imperial Goal: Unity • centralize government and impose legal and doctrinal conformity One GodOne EmpireOne Religion

6. 1st Method: Law • Corpus Juris Civilis (body of civil law) • It provided the foundation for most European law

7. 2nd Method: Religion • Religion • Christianity = official

8. 3rd Method: Strong Cities • The empire’s strength was its more than 1,500 cities.

9. "Not since the world was made was there . . . so much wealth as was found in Constantinople. For the Greeks say that two-thirds of the wealth of this world is in Constantinople and the other third scattered throughout the world." • --Robert of Clari, a French crusader who witnessed the pillage of the city in 1204, describing Constantinople.

10. Loyal Governors and Bishops • Councils • Later, special governors and bishops

11. The Empire at Its Height The empire was at its height In 565, during Justinian’s reign. It included most of the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

12. Recovery of Territory • Crusades

13. The Fall of Constantinople • in 1204, the Crusaders attacked, conquered, and pillaged the city of Constantinople, a goal that the Muslims had been trying achieve for centuries

14. Holy Roman Empire • Founded by Charlemagne • Not called that until 962 • Revived the western Roman Empire • Centralized power • Italy, Germany, Belgium, France

15. The Crusades

16. Roots of the Crusades • 1095-1204 • Christian military campaigns • Causes • Religious zeal • Church-sanctioned warfare • Land • trade

17. Cont. • Muslim control of Christian sites • Byzantine plea • 1095- Pope Urban II calls for Crusades

19. Impact • Limited impact of Muslim world • Ended Europe’s intellectual isolation