Objective: Describe the governing system continuities and changes of The Byzantine Empire and what led to its decline.
Byzantium
Unlike most empires, Byzantium had no clear staring point. Many historians consider Byzantium only a continuation of old Roman Empire. It continued to use the roman roads, taxation system, military structures, and imperial court laws. It established a well fortified capital city called Constantinople. The people of Byzantium called themselves Romans and continued to use Christianity as the main religion. The emperor, like Roman emperors, ruled by Devine right claiming to be the representative of God on Earth.
Although there were many continuities when it comes to administrative techniques, there were also some changes with regards to religion and language. The emperor of Byzantium was not only the "Caesar" or political leader, but also the head of the Eastern Orthodox church or patriarch. For an explanation of the split of the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, see below. This idea of both political and religious leader became known as caesaropapism. One of the main ways that the Byzantines used religion to legitimize their rule was by building the Hagia Sophia. This church was considered central to the Christian faith but was also central to the government. This was the place were new rulers were crowned. Lastly, the Byzantines spoke Greek unlike the Romans who spoke Latin.
The Byzantine Empire faced many challenges. The effects of a plague that killed many people a hundred years before was still felt. Fewer people could participate in society. Therefore, educational institutions broke down, farming declined, money from taxes decreased and funds to repair roads and other public projects were not available. The Byzantine Empire was already involved in a long war with their enemies to the east, the Turks. In 1450 The Ottoman Turks finally broke through the heavy fortifications of Constantinople bringing an end to the Byzantine Empire
Although there were many continuities when it comes to administrative techniques, there were also some changes with regards to religion and language. The emperor of Byzantium was not only the "Caesar" or political leader, but also the head of the Eastern Orthodox church or patriarch. For an explanation of the split of the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, see below. This idea of both political and religious leader became known as caesaropapism. One of the main ways that the Byzantines used religion to legitimize their rule was by building the Hagia Sophia. This church was considered central to the Christian faith but was also central to the government. This was the place were new rulers were crowned. Lastly, the Byzantines spoke Greek unlike the Romans who spoke Latin.
The Byzantine Empire faced many challenges. The effects of a plague that killed many people a hundred years before was still felt. Fewer people could participate in society. Therefore, educational institutions broke down, farming declined, money from taxes decreased and funds to repair roads and other public projects were not available. The Byzantine Empire was already involved in a long war with their enemies to the east, the Turks. In 1450 The Ottoman Turks finally broke through the heavy fortifications of Constantinople bringing an end to the Byzantine Empire
The Crusades
In important ways, the Crusades were driven by religious faith. However, the political motivation was to stop Muslim expansion. Economically, Europeans wanted to control important trade routes.
Early Islamic dynasties, like the Umayyads and the Abbasids, were tolerant of Christians and Jews living among them, as long as they paid the jizya tax. Christian pilgrims brought good business to the Abassid’s Empire’s economy.
Early Islamic dynasties, like the Umayyads and the Abbasids, were tolerant of Christians and Jews living among them, as long as they paid the jizya tax. Christian pilgrims brought good business to the Abassid’s Empire’s economy.
But then a new group of Muslims, the Sejuk Turks, moved into the region. The Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantines in battle, they sacked the holy cities and made it much more difficult for Christians to make their pilgrimages. That forced the Byzantine emperor to ask the pope and the west for help.
The first official crusade began in 1095 with a call to arms from Pope Urban II. This was partly because Urban wanted to unite Europe by giving them a common enemy. The Pope promised people to pardon for past sins if they joined the Crusade. Thousands of mostly peasants along with some nobles volunteered for the First Crusade. The objective was to take control of the Holy Lands from Muslim rule.
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The Crusades failed to establish Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land long term. With the rise of the Turks, the region remained mostly Muslim, as it is today. More importantly, the crusades succeeded in connecting Europe to the rest of Afroeurasia. Crusaders developed a taste for spices, textiles like silk. Crusaders returned with apricots, lemons, rice, dyes, spices, perfume, soap, and glass mirrors. They also brought back a musical instrument, the ancestor of the modern guitar. Europeans also learned how to establish sugar plantations that would have a significant impact on the world by 1450
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The Great Schism (1053 CE)
believers within a religion may disagree how to practice the faith or what beliefs to follow, causing schisms (or divisions) within the religion. We saw this previously with the Sunni and Shi’a split in Islam, and with the Buddhism splitting into Theravada and Mahayana in Buddhism. The Christian church also split during 1053 into Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholicism.
Reasons of religious dispute included the Catholic belief that clerics should remain celibate. Another point of contention included the use of icons. The Catholic church approved the use of icons while the Eastern Orthodox did not. The ultimate reason for the split was on who was the authority. The Pope in Rome claim full authority over all churches in Europe and the Patriarch in Constantinople also claimed authority. It all ended with both leaders excommunicating each other and establishing separate churches. This was the first split of the Christian Church. The next split would be the Protestant Revolution that you will learn about in unit 4. |