Byzantine Empire Outline

I. THE BYZNATINE EMPIRE

A.

Constantinople faced many obstacles when it came to ruling the Roman Mediterranean Empire. In means of traveling across the Mediterranean, it could take a few months to travel from east to west, also bearing a problem in time and scale.

An emperor was the "anointed of the lord." The emperor Justinian exhausted the resources of the Byzantium, ruined Italy's economy, and killed a major portion of their population. The Byzantine Empire had lost its outlying possessions to the Arabs and the Slaves, making them more compact.

B.

Constantinople was an economic hub because of its wealth. This came from the trade routes that passed through Constantinople to the Far East, distributing luxury items from spices, silks, rare woods, and perfumes. This profited the venders on the streets. But they were not just known for there money, they also were generous. They established poorhouses, hospitals, and orphanages. The Byzantines also carried on the Roman tradition of political involvement. The people of Constantinople would gather at chariot races so the emperor could address the people.

Although Constantinople was safe from the Germanic tribes, the Byzantines had to avoid challenges with the Persians and the Muslims; so they used provincial organization. The armies were made up of about 25 provinces of military men; these were called themes. There was the "head of the household," which made the judicial and financial decisions and there was the "military household," which were village families who owned one fully equipped man to the empire's army. These local residents were who made up the army in char...

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...ng the military and economic leaders. In 691 the Dome of the Rock was built by one caliph who wanted to de-emphasize Mecca. He intended this rock in Jerusalem to be the spot for the faithful instead of the Ka'bah, and was successful.

The Umayyad Caliphate was taken over by the Abbasids in 750. They intended to reestablish spiritual authority to the caliphate, broaden authority from the Arabs to other believers, and move the capital to Baghdad. Because of successful trade from the Far East, the new land became the administrative center of Islam.

F. During the early sixteenth century, Muscovy began to be known as the "Third Rome." According to this theory, ancient Rome fell because of heresy, and the "Second Rome," Constantinople, was brought down by infidels. The "Third Rome," Muscovy, would illuminate the world and would never fall.