Byzantine Empire - Constantine
Aim: Why was the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) successful while the Western Roman Empire, was not?
Do Now: List at least three (3) causes of the fall of the Roman Empire?
- Disease - Plagues, etc
- Poor Leadership - Corruption
- Unemployment
- Inflation
- Barbarian Invasions
- Weak Military
- Urban Decay
- Few Technological Advances
- High Taxes
- Poor Food Production
The Byzantine Empire - Overview
When the Roman Empire divided under the Emperor Diocletian in the late 200s CE. The Eastern half of the empire became known as the Byzantine Empire, as its new capital was built on the site of the old Greek city Byzantium. When the western half was overrun in the late 5th century CE, the Byzantine Empire became supreme. The Byzantine Empire preserved much of the Greco-Roman culture, and helped spread it across a vast region. Maintaining control over much of the old Roman territories, the Byzantine Empire also spread its power and influence into new areas, such as Russia. Byzantine missionaries spread the Orthodox Christian religion to Russia, and also adapted the Greek alphabet to provided the Slavic speaking peoples a written language called Cyrillic, after the monk Cyril who helped create it. Russia and Eastern Europe also adapted art and literature from the Byzantines, as well as architecture. In return, these areas became important trading partners for the Byzantines.
Constantine the Great
Being the first Roman Emperor to profess Christianity. Constantine's support of the religion would help transform it into the institution it would remain through the Middle Ages. Although Constantine lived more than a hundred years before the traditional beginning of the Middle Ages, he is included in this reference because of the significant and far-reaching impact he and his reign had on Christianity and society in Medieval Europe.
Constantine the Great was the first Roman Emperor to profess Christianity. He established the new capital of Rome at the old Greek town of Byzantium, which he renamed New Rome, and which the people came to call Constantinople after him (probably with some encouragement from his supporters). This would become the capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
Constantine raised Christianity (which had not long been legal in the empire) to the status of a "permitted religion." He took a direct interest in matters of doctrine, setting a precedent for future emperors, and called the first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church (at Nicaea). He had churches built after the pattern of Roman temples and public buildings. He restored to Christians the property they had lost during the persecutions of his predecessors, and he promoted and favored Christians in government jobs. His sponsorship of the religion made it suddenly advantageous to be a Christian.
Though the sincerity of Constantine's conversion has been debated, the impact of his actions on the subsequent history of the Church is undeniable.
Classwork & Homework
Lesson PowerPoint: The Byzantine Empire - Constantine
Lesson Activity: Byzantine Empire & World History
Homework: Assignments