The Golden Age of the Byzantines
The Big Idea: The civilizations that developed in Greece and Rome had an enduring impact on later civilizations. This legacy includes governance and law, engineering and technology, art and architecture, as well as literature and history. The Roman Empire also played an instrumental role in the spread of Christianity.
Big Idea 2: The ability to understand individual and group perspectives is essential to analyzing historic and contemporary issues. |
Learning Targets:
Assessment: Justinian Essay |
NOTES PART A & B - Byzantine Art, Architecture and Culture
Use the Prezi below to complete both PART A and PART B of the note sheet you receive in class. Keep this sheet when you finish.
Hagia Sophia - Church of "Holy Wisdom"This is a great video that shows the inside of the Hagia Sophia. Notice the blend of Byzantine and Islamic artwork.
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NOTES PART C - Emperor Justinian
In 476, when the Roman empire collapsed and the western half was conquered by Germanic tribes, the empire of the east remained strong. This empire, as we have discussed, became known as the Byzantine Empire. Like Rome, it was ruled by emperors. Probably the most famous and influential of these was Justinian I. His rule lasted from 527 - 565.
Justinian was actually born into a lower, peasant class family within the East Roman Empire. It was his uncle, the emperor Justin, who he inherited his power from. Justin had no sons and Justinian was his favorite nephew. Justinian was married to a woman named Theodora. Theodora was very unpopular with the people of the empire due to her lower class upbringing and previous job as an entertainer. Even so, Justinian valued the opinion of his wife and she had great influence in creating laws. Especially laws that protected the rights of women. Justinian even named her "co-empress" of the empire.
Justinian ruled from the capital city of Byzantine empire, the city of Constantinople, which today is called Istanbul. Not only was the emperor of the empire in charge of the government, he also was the leader of the Christian Church.
One of Justinian's goals was to reconquer the lands of the old Western Roman Empire and unite it with the east the way it once was. During his rule, the Byzantine Empire fought many wars and campaigns in order to try to achieve this goal. Although he was very successful in taking back most of the lands from the invading Germanic Tribes, it was extremely expensive for the empire. Justinian eventually had to give up his dream of a reunited empire due to the excessive costs.
Reconquering Roman lands is just one thing Justinian is famous for. He was also a great patron of the arts. He commissioned the construction of many great buildings in Constantinople, especially cathedrals. The Hagia Sophia is the most well known example of this. This famous church remained the largest in the world for almost 1,000 years (until the construction of the Seville Cathedral in Spain in 1520). This cathedral served as a christian (Orthodox) church until the Byzantine Empire fell in 1453 to the Muslim Ottoman Turks. It was then transformed into a Muslim mosque. Today, the building is an open museum for tourists to visit. (see video below for a tour of the museum)
Probably the most influential and long lasting impact Justinian had on the world involved the law. Justinian established a committee to relook at old Roman laws, reorganize them and update them. Justinian created a written code of laws, called the Justinian Code. In many ways this code gave people equal rights but others, especially non-Christians were often not included.
Justinian was actually born into a lower, peasant class family within the East Roman Empire. It was his uncle, the emperor Justin, who he inherited his power from. Justin had no sons and Justinian was his favorite nephew. Justinian was married to a woman named Theodora. Theodora was very unpopular with the people of the empire due to her lower class upbringing and previous job as an entertainer. Even so, Justinian valued the opinion of his wife and she had great influence in creating laws. Especially laws that protected the rights of women. Justinian even named her "co-empress" of the empire.
Justinian ruled from the capital city of Byzantine empire, the city of Constantinople, which today is called Istanbul. Not only was the emperor of the empire in charge of the government, he also was the leader of the Christian Church.
One of Justinian's goals was to reconquer the lands of the old Western Roman Empire and unite it with the east the way it once was. During his rule, the Byzantine Empire fought many wars and campaigns in order to try to achieve this goal. Although he was very successful in taking back most of the lands from the invading Germanic Tribes, it was extremely expensive for the empire. Justinian eventually had to give up his dream of a reunited empire due to the excessive costs.
Reconquering Roman lands is just one thing Justinian is famous for. He was also a great patron of the arts. He commissioned the construction of many great buildings in Constantinople, especially cathedrals. The Hagia Sophia is the most well known example of this. This famous church remained the largest in the world for almost 1,000 years (until the construction of the Seville Cathedral in Spain in 1520). This cathedral served as a christian (Orthodox) church until the Byzantine Empire fell in 1453 to the Muslim Ottoman Turks. It was then transformed into a Muslim mosque. Today, the building is an open museum for tourists to visit. (see video below for a tour of the museum)
Probably the most influential and long lasting impact Justinian had on the world involved the law. Justinian established a committee to relook at old Roman laws, reorganize them and update them. Justinian created a written code of laws, called the Justinian Code. In many ways this code gave people equal rights but others, especially non-Christians were often not included.
Socrative Note Check
Map Analysis Questions and 2 Edcite Assignments
If you have not finished and submitted the following assignments then you need to complete them!
1. Map Analysis Questions - Put name on sheet and put in your bell's box at the front of room
2. Edcite Assignments - There are 2. Click on the link below and Ssgn in through Google!!!!
1. Map Analysis Questions - Put name on sheet and put in your bell's box at the front of room
2. Edcite Assignments - There are 2. Click on the link below and Ssgn in through Google!!!!
10 Interesting Facts about the Byzantine Empire
Some of you have started this! Get a pink packet (from your folder or the front table) and use the link below to get to the article for the assignment.
Quarterly Extra Credit Assignment
If you have finished EVERYTHING above, you may work on the Quarterly Extra Credit Assignment. The link to the page with directions and resources is to the right.
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DO NOT MOVE ON BEYOND THIS POINT!!!
A Primary Source Look at Emperor Justinian...
Procopius is one of those writers that present us with the little mysteries of history. He writes several books praising the emperor and his accomplishments, then he turns around and writes The Secret History, in which he describes the reigning emperor Justinian and his empress Theodora as the most dishonorable and treacherous people on the face of the Earth, always betraying their friends and supporters and condemning innocent men and women to exile, death, or dungeon. Procopius wrote all of his works while Justinian was still on the throne in that period of time when the Eastern Roman Empire was evolving into the Byzantine Empire. He was the personal secretary of Belisarius, Justinian’s very capable and successful general who reconquered North Africa and Italy for the Roman Empire, throwing the Vandals and Ostrogoths from power in these former Roman provinces.
Historians are still trying to guess why Procopius wrote so favorably about Justinian at first, then wrote the scandals in The Secret History, and then turned around and wrote glowing accounts of Justinian’s accomplishments again. Obviously, this work could not be published during the reign of Justinian and was only published after A. D. 535, the year in which both Justinian and Procopius died.
Historians are still trying to guess why Procopius wrote so favorably about Justinian at first, then wrote the scandals in The Secret History, and then turned around and wrote glowing accounts of Justinian’s accomplishments again. Obviously, this work could not be published during the reign of Justinian and was only published after A. D. 535, the year in which both Justinian and Procopius died.
Below are two quotes about Emperor Justinian by his official court historian, Procopius. One is written in his official account and the other is written from his Secret History.
Quote 1It is, indeed, a proof of the esteem with which God regarded the Emperor, that He furnished him with men who would be so useful in effecting his designs, and we are compelled to admire the intelligence of the Emperor, in being able to choose the most suitable of mankind to carry out the noblest of his works.
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Quote 2That Justinian was not a man, but a demon, as I have said, in human form, one might prove by considering the enormity of the evils he brought upon mankind. For in the monstrousness of his actions the power of a fiend is manifest. Certainly an accurate reckoning of all those whom he destroyed would be impossible, I think, for anyone but God to make.
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Which quote do you think is taken from Procopius' Secret History? Give evidence from the quote to support this claim.
SOURCES ACTIVITY - The Reign of Justinian I
Many people who study the reign of Justinian would say that he was something of a paradox (he contained both good and bad qualities). His reign is both simultaneously revered (loved) and reviled (hated).
Answer the questions you are given using the appropriate source provided. Once completed the information you have found will help you create a Prose Constructed Response or Essay about the reign of Justinian I.
Answer the questions you are given using the appropriate source provided. Once completed the information you have found will help you create a Prose Constructed Response or Essay about the reign of Justinian I.
Assessment - The Rule of Justinian I
Now that you have learned a bit about the rule of Justinian during the Golden Age of the Byzantine Empire, you will use the information you have found to make an informed decision about the popularity of his reign and enduring impact you think he had. This assignment will require you to use evidence to support your claims.
Prose Constructed Response - Essay
Prose Constructed Response - Essay
You have reviewed multiple sources about the rule of Justinian I. These pieces provide information to begin drafting your own argument. Answer the following question:
Explain two different perspectives people living under Justinian's rule may have had about him as a ruler and why. Then evaluate the legacy you think he had on the world today.
Write and informative piece that addresses the question and support your position with evidence from at least two of the sources. Be sure to acknowledge competing views/perspectives people from his time period would have had. Give examples to illustrate and clarify your position.
So what should your essay include?
- Organized (well constructed paragraphs and sentences), spelling and grammar checked, legible . 4 pts.
Total - 20 pts.
- Identify at least 2 different perspectives (opinions) that people living in the Byzantine Empire would have had about the emperor Justinian. (Christians, Non-Christians, Women, Wealthy citizens, Poor citizens, etc.) 4 pts.
- Use evidence from the sources to analyze why they would have had that opinion (what influenced them). 8 pts
- Evaluate (decide on) the success of Justinian's rule and its enduring impact on history from your own perspective. Provide examples to support your claim. 4 pts
- Organized (well constructed paragraphs and sentences), spelling and grammar checked, legible . 4 pts.
Total - 20 pts.
Sample Essay by Sean Dallas on Scribd
Thesis Statement Video Clip Activity
More Practice...
Click on the link to complete a practice activity that will help you understand more about what a thesis statement is and how to create one.
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