The Byzantine Empire

I.  Emperor Justinian

                1. Justinian came to power in 527 A.D. with a pledge to restore the Roman Empire as dominant force in the Mediterranean Sea.

                2. He followed up on his pledge with some very successful military campaigns and by 552 had restored the following places under control.

                                A. Italy

                                B. Spain

                                C. North Africa

                                D. Asia-Minor

                                E. Palestine

                                F. Syria

                3. Also established The Body of Civil Law.

                                A. Was the bases for law in Eastern Roman Empire and some other parts of Europe.

                4. For all his work relatively nothing was gained through, because after his death in 562 A.D. all the land that he gained was lost.

II. East Roman Empire by Byzantine Empire

                1. Justinian had work to do much good, but his work had some negative efforts on his empire.

                                A. It had to much land to quickly effectively protect the land he had gained.

                                B. All of his campaigns emptied the treasury.

                                C. Increased warfare led to a population decline.

                                D. New threats from new enemies like the Arabs to the South East borders.

                2. By the 8^th century after losing land to the Arabs and citizens of the Eastern Roman Empire were as they had ever been.

                                A. This small empire was referred to by historians as the Byzantine Empire.

                                B. The Byzantine Empire was Greek/Christian in its social/religious make-up.

                                C. Politics were ruled by the Byzantine Emperor who was believed to be a representative of God and that  also they were the  head of  Church.

                                                1. This led to a schism (split) in the church between Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox (Byzantine) Church because the Byzantine failed and refused to recognize the Pope the head of the Catholic Religion.

III. Life in Constantinople

                1. Constantinople became the great city of the world during the Middle Age because of it is located in the center of the East and West Trade route.

                2. The city had a major silk export thanks to the work of two monks who smuggled some from China.

                3. Also a architectural are due to the building programs of Justinian.

VI. The Empire Rebounds

                1. By 1025 the Byzantine Empire had reestablished itself through increased trade and take over some nearby land.  

V. Then Crashes Again

                1. The success was short lived though because of:

                                A. Internal conflicts.

                                B. The schism in the Church.

                                C. A military lose in battle to the Turks in Asia Minor which cost the Byzantine Empire a major source of food and workers.

VI. The Crusades Begin

                1. Alexius I, Byzantine Emperor, looks to Europe for help in fighting the Arabs.

                2. Pope Urban II saw this as an opportunity to provide Papal leadership to an cause of great purist.

                                A. His causeliberating Jerusalem from the Infidels.

                3. Pope Urban II called for his campaign in 1095 at the Council of Claremont. 

                                A. Many of those who responded to his name were done so for religious purpose, but other came for adventure, fighting, and some for even love. Also for new trading possibilities.