Byzantine Empire Essays - Justinian Dynasty, Flavii,

Byzantine Empire The greatest of medieval civilizations was the Eastern Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was divided in 395. The Western half, ruled from Rome, was ruled by the barbarians in the 5th century. The Eastern half, known as the Byzantine Empire, lasted for more than over 1,000 years. The Byzantine Empire was one of the leading civilizations in the world. In 324, Constantine, the first Christian emperor, became the single ruler of the Roman Empire. He set up his Eastern headquarters at the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium in 330. This city, later renamed Constantinople, was also known as new Rome. It became the capital of the Byzantines after the Roman Empire was divided. Constantinople was located on the European shore of the Bosporus, between the Aegean and Black seas, in what is now the countryside of Turkey. The city brought together people from Europe and Asia. During the ten and a half centuries that the Byzantine Empire lasted, its boundaries continually changed. The territory that made up the empire in 565 included Italy, Sicily, North Africa, southern Spain and Syria. At its largest during 1000, the Byzantine Empire included Greece, Italy, Egypt, Syria, North Africa, and southern Spain. The first era of Byzantine civilization lasted from about 324 to 640. During this time, the separate identity of the empire was established. The first great period of the Byzantines occurred during the reign of Justinian I, who took the throne in 527. Justinian had reconquered much of the territory that had fallen into barbarian hands. He also built Constantinople into one of the most magnificent cities of the world. There was much conflict during the first years of the Byzantine empire. Barbarian people, eager for land and power, pushed at its boundaries during the 5th century. At first, the Byzantines attempted to form an uneasy peace with the barbarians who surrounded them. Justinian I became emperor in 527, and ruled until 565. Empress Theodora, his wife, ruled with him until her death in 548. Justinian built Constantinople into a glorious city of domed churches, palaces, and public arenas. By the end of his reign, the city was surrounded by a 12 mile border of walls. Inside, spacious streets were lined with buildings of marble and alabaster. Goods from around the world filled the shops: silk, purple cloth, and gold from Greece; spices, drugs, and precious stones from India. The greatest of the public buildings was the Hippodrome, an arena that could seat over 40,000 people. Byzantines gathered there to sit and watch chariot races, jugglers, circus acts, and fights between wild animals. In a city of churches, the most magnificent was St. Sophia Cathedral. Also known as Hagia Sophia, or the church of Holy Wisdom. It was completed by Justinian in 537. It is an enormous building, shaped like across, with a dome reaching 180 feet from the ground. It has a beautiful interior of colored marble, gold, silver, and mosaics. Justinian contributed more then just a wonderful city. He is also known for the Justinian Code, a collection of Roman laws from the time of the 2nd century. This code was composed in 529. The code listed all valid edicts of the time and set the legal basis for the absolute and God-given authority of an emperor over his subjects. These laws had an impact on France, Germany, Italy, Russian, and Serbia. Trade thrived during Justinian's reign, and Byzantine art and architecture flourished. But the empire's funds were used up by the high cost of the wars and improvements that took place under Justinian. As a result, the empire was bankrupt when he died in 565. The period from about 641 and 1025 is considered to be the golden age of the Byzantine Empire. Advances in military strength, religious influence, and the arts made the Byzantines one of the most powerful forces in the world of the Middle Ages. Byzantine art if the Eastern Christian art that flourished during the time of the Byzantine Empire. In the West, Byzantine art is known for domed churches with magnificent interiors that feature a variety of highly crafted religious images. Byzantine artists used many costly materials, such as gold, silver, and lapis lazuli, to create colorful murals.