The New Rome

The Byzantine Empire later got its name from the eastern half of the Roman Empire, which was split in 395 A.D. At its peak in the 500s A.D., the Byzantine Empire's power reached east to the Arabian border, south to Egypt, and west to Italy. Within the boundaries of the empire lived many different races. The majority of people were Greek. The empire was filled by Egyptians, Syrians, Arabs, Armenians, Persians, Jews, Slavs, and Turks. The rules strengthened, the arts excelled, and the empire increased a lot under the rule of emperor Justinian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constantinople

Constantine changed the name of Byzantium to Constantinople and relocated the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. The brand-new city prospered. Multicultural Constantinople had become one of the most developed cities in the world by the 500s A.D.
The success of Constantinople was significantly influenced by its position. Located on a peninsula between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, the city's excellent harbors attracted fishing boats, trading ships, and warships. Because of its location at the crossroads of trade routes between Europe and Asia, Constantinople became the wealthiest part of the Roman Empire. Constantinople was also easy to defend. Lying on a peninsula, the city was protected by water on three sides, while a huge wall provided extra protection on the fourth. For extra protection, a huge chain was later placed over the city's harbor. It was hard to launch surprise attacks on Constantinople.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Cultural Influences Shaped the Byzantines?

At first, Constantinople resembled other Roman Empire cities. Government offices and palaces were built in the "New Rome" style architecture. The Hippodrome, an oval arena in the city, was also used for horse races and other events. Rome had an effect on Byzantine Empire government and culture. Roman laws were enforced and spoken in Latin by emperors. The Byzantine Empire welcomed many wealthy Roman families who lived in towns or on large farming properties. Similar to how things took place in Rome, the government provided free bread and entertainment for the poor in the empire.
Roman influence on the Byzantine Empire faded throughout time while Greek influence grew in the area. Greek was the main language of most Byzantines, and Byzantine emperors and officials also changed from speaking Latin to Greek. Byzantine culture was also inspired by the ideas of non-Greek peoples like the Slavs and the Egyptians. From Persia, more customs were introduced to the east. The Byzantine civilization formed as a result of the mixing of all these cultures.
The Byzantines created one of the most advanced civilizations in the world between the years 500 and 1200. They kept Greek culture and Roman law and transferred them to other peoples. Additionally, they also spread Christianity across Eastern Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justinian's Rule

When the Byzantine Empire was at its strongest, Justinian ruled it. Justinian, a skilled general and skilled ruler, governed from A.D. 527 until A.D. 565. He had full power over the government, the military services, and all official decisions made inside the empire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Was Theodora?

Empress Theodora, Justinian's wife, was a gorgeous, smart, and ambitious woman. She took part in society and helped Justinian in choosing officials. Byzantine women had more protections and rights thanks to Theodora. She pressured Justinian to change Byzantine law to allow wives to have land. A woman's land would give her the cash she needed to care for her children if she became a single mother. In 532 A.D., Theodora showed her political wisdom during crisis in the year 532. Government was threatened by angry Constantinople taxpayers, so Justinian's assistants recommended him to leave the city. But, Theodora asked her husband to continue fighting. Justinian stayed in the city and fought back, following Theodora's advice. The rebels were defeated by his army. Justinian was able to restore control and order and improving his power as emperor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justinian's Legal Reforms

The topic of law was one of Justinian's lasting achievements to later civilizations. Justinian became aware of the confusing and disorganized form of the empire's laws soon after he was made king. He gave the responsibility of creating a better and more simple set of laws to a team of legal experts led by Tribonian. The Justinian Code was the name given to the group's new set of rules. The code changed how officials and businesspeople understand the laws of the empire. The Justinian Code has remained as the basis of almost all Western nations legal systems for centuries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Byzantine Arts

As with other Byzantine emperors, Justinian had an interest in art and architecture. Churches, forts, and official buildings were built at the emperors' demand all over the Byzantine Empire. The Hagia Sophia, or "Holy Wisdom," temple was one of the many beautiful palaces and temples in Constantinople. Over 10,000 people worked in shifts to create the church under Justinian's orders. The domed church was built in A.D. 537 and served as the Byzantine Empire's main place of worship. Hagia Sophia's interior features polished marble walls along with magnificent gold and silver decorations. In Istanbul, this incredible structure has still not fallen.
The walls of Hagia Sophia's interior were also covered in many mosaics. In case you weren't aware, mosaics are designs or images created from tiny pieces of colorful stone or glass. Most mosaics in the Byzantine Empire featured saint people (Christian holy people). Other mosaics honored Byzantine emperors, like the one at the beginning of the chapter. Emperor Justinian was interested in education and same with arts and architecture. In Byzantine culture, knowledge was highly respected. Boys at Byzantine schools studied subjects like religion, medicine, math, law, and grammar. Some received education from private instructors. In general, girls did not attend school

and got all of their education at home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Military Conquests

Justinian planned to recreate the Roman Empire and restore Rome's greatness. The Byzantine army was strengthened and rebuilt under the control of a general named Belisarius. The new army depended on cavalry men who rode horses rather than foot soldiers. The armed Byzantine cavalry used bows and lances, which were long spears.
The Byzantine military invaded regions that had belonged to the massive Roman Empire between the years 533 and 555. These areas included parts of northern Africa, Spain, and Italy. Also, they crushed the Persians, increasing the security of the empire's eastern boundaries. The triumphs of Justinian's army were short, though. A deadly sickness known to historians as "Justinian's Plague" swept Asia plus Europe around the 5th century. Millions of people perished from the disease, including multiple soldiers in Justinian's army. The Byzantine Empire's ability to fight a war was severely weakened by the death of so many troops. Addition, the Byzantines lacked the resources to maintain an army large enough to fight the Persians in the east and defend the lands in the west. After Justinian's death, most of the western lands he had captured were lost.

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