Introduction to the Medieval World: Class 3
Class 3: The Eastern Roman Empire to Heraclius
Assigned Reading:
I. Introduction
A. Last Class - Recap
B. Byzantium
1. Why important?
Survival of Rome in East
Most important Christina State until c. 1200
Sister civilization to West
Important in history of Slavs and Russia
Survival of classical culture
2. Three Elements
Greek Culture
- not Athenian, but Hellenistic
Roman Government
- late imperial system
- the people
Christian Religion
3. Renovatio - concept
II. Constantinople
Founded 324 - East was more vital part of the Empire
Geographical situation.
Size as a city
Relics and impression on outsiders
Dominance of later Byzantine history
III. Separation of East and West
A. Begun by Diocletian
395 last time united
B. Invasions
Persia - Sassanid
Germans - Goths - Adrianople 378
Odovacar - 476
Theodoric - 495-536
IV. Development of Institutional Christianity
A. Egypt, Anatolia and Rome
The Pentarchy?
B. Rome and Constantinople
V. Church and Dogmatic Development
Since Byzantium was so explicitly religious, developments
in Christianity had direct social and political consequences.
A. Need for Change - Heresy
Problems in formulations of Trinity and Christology
No problem, little doctrine, e.g. on Baptism
B. Until it was legal main job was to survive, but
after it became legal - the problem arose.
Christianity changes from a sect (challenging the world.
to a church (accommodating to the world.
C. The Fathers - Explain concept.
Origen
Athanasius vs. Arius
Jerome 340-420 - Vulgate
Augustine 354-430 - City of God, and
Predestination. Not cyclic history.
History as and end.
Greek Fathers
Basil, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory Nazianus
Cyril, Maximus, Pseudo-Dionysius
D. Heresies
1. Donatism - Western
Response to last persecution. in North Africa
2. Arianism - Egypt - firstborn, therefore not God
Ulfilas and the Goths
E. Councils
Sardica
Nicea 325 Constantine Presides
Nicene Creed - Discuss
F. Continued Dogmatic Disputes
Mixed in with ecclesiastical politics
But also based on genuine cultural differences.
G. Church and State - Ambrose and Augustine
Gelasius - Royal power and priestly power
VI. Justinian 527-565 - Last Latin speaking emperor
A. Attempt to Restore Rome
Justinian from Illyrium
The circus; Factions and Nike riots
B. Belasarius
In the East - Persia driven back
In the West - Reconquest of Italy
Destruction of classical civilization in Italy
C. Theodora - fascination of historians with her.
D. Procopius - Main source
E. Roman Law - Corpus Iuris Civilis - in Latin
F. Religious Policy
Problem - Mix of Religious and Political
Nestorianism
Monophysitism
Chalcedon 451
VII. Art and Architecture
A. Buildings - Hagia Sophia
B. Christian Iconography - Naturalistic but Heavenly
C. Mosaics
D. Ravenna
VIII. End of Justinian's Reign
Plague - 541-43, and afterwards - Began in Egypt
New Invasions - Avars 561
Persia and Chosroes II - The Sassanids
IX. Heraclius
From North Africa - used to surviving
628 - Journey to Armenia
X. The Basileus
Greek - Union with people of Constantinople
A. The Arab Invasions 717-18
B. Loss of Egypt and Syria
First to Persians (millet system.) then to Arabs
C. The Greek Empire
The Balkans and Anatolia
The Theme System
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