1. Byzantium, Islam and the western
European territories of Christendom

2. Medieval or Middle Ages

 In the “Middle Ages”
 Foundations of modern political institutions were laid
 Relationships between Judaism, Christianity and Islam were first
articulated
 Between 500 and 1100 C.E. Western Civilizations are dominated by the
interactions and conflicts of these three civilizations

3. The Civilization of Byzantium

330-1453

4. Baptism of
Constantine,
Raphael’s
pupils, 1520-
1524, Fresco,
Apostolic
Palace,
Vatican City

5. The Byzantine Empire

 A successor to the Roman state
 Justinian I (Last Roman Emperor)
 Threats and challenges
 The Persians
 Theft of the relic of the original cross
 Heraclius routs the Persians (627)
 Islam
 Codification of Roman Law
 Challenges to Orthodox Christianity

6. Justinian (R. 527-565)

 Last Emperor who spoke Latin as his first
language
 Corpus Juris Civilis (Codification of
Roman Law) translated to Greek to be
useful
 After re-conquest of western empire did
not hold, East and West developed own
cultures founded in Roman culture but
distinctly different

7. Corpus Juris Civilis

Codification of Roman law written in Latin, the
language of Rome—translated to Greek, the
language of Byzantium
 Political philosophy; “What pleases the prince has the force of law”
 A sovereign’s powers are delegated to him by the people
 The state is a corporate body, not the extension of an individual’s
private property
 Orthodox Christianity: only legal religion in the Empire

8. The Mediterranean World under Justinian, 527–565

9. Unintended Results of Justinian’s

 Justinian’s Army overextended
 Drastically strained imperial resources in Byzantium
 Oppressive taxes resulted
 Distraction from threats closer to home by Sassanid Kingdom (Persians)
 Conflict with Church in Western Roman Empire over power of Bishops and
King, Patriarch or Pope
Success

10. 
 Constantinople threatened; armies withdrawn from Italy and North Africa;
 Vital supply lines for the aqueducts to Rome were cut (Rome was without
water);
 In 568 the Lombards conquered Northern Italy and some territories in the
South East
 3 divisions in Peninsula (North, Central, South East)
 Conflict between Visigoths and Latin Hispanolans in Spain weakened each
other.
 Visigoths conquered and absorbed by Islam.
 By late 8th century Christian rulers controlled only the northernmost part of
Spain

11. Leo II & Iconoclast Controversy

 8th century: most Christians insisted that images were an aid to worship not objects
of worship.
 Iconoclasts argued that honoring images was blasphemy and Christ’s divinity could
not be represented visually.
 726, Leo III: decree against icons and ordered destruction of a statue of Christ near the
Hagia Sophia.
 Constantine V (his son) 754: convened church council to condemn worship of images.
 Created discord with Church in Rome over power to decide church policies
 implication that Pope was an idolater.
 Pitted Emperor against monasteries
 Leo confiscated Church property claiming blasphemy; but confiscated wealth helped
him to pay for wars

12. Icons


13. Byzantium:
Tradition vs. Innovation

 Religion
 Fear of heresy impeded freedom of thought
 Reinforced unity of Christian culture in a cosmopolitan urban center
 Hagia Sophia architecture emphasized the mysteries of holy knowledge imparted to Christ
and to the soul of the Believer
 Links with Hellenistic past: Byzantine schools based instruction on Greek literature
 Studied Plato and historical prose of Thucydides
 Aristotle and logic were less respected (ultimately banned in 1118)
 Tradition prized more highly than originality
 Preservation more important than innovation
 Byzantine education open to laity and to women

14. Mosaic above Imperial Gate in the Hagia Sophia depicts Emperor Leo VI
adoring Jesus. Who has the power in this mosaic?