HIST 10 -  World History to 1500
Lect. # 12

Byzantium & Saving the Roman Empire
(Istanbul not Constantinople)

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I. Rise of the Eastern Roman Empire (description)
          A. "Good Emperors" (96 - 180 CE)
                    • Death of Augustus (14 CE)
                    • Marcus Aurelius (r.161-180 CE)
                    • "Barracks Emperors" 
          B. Diocletian (r. 284-305)
                    • Tetrarchy:  augustus/ceasar
          C. Constantine the Great (312-337)
                    • Milvian Bridge (312)
                         - Chi Ro
                    • Constantius's son = Constantine
                    • Maximian's son =Maxentius
          D. Constantinople - the "New Rome"
                   • Advantages
                         - trade
                         - defendable
                         - Christian demographics
                   • New Rome?
                         - May 11, 330
                         - Greek and Hellenistic influences

II. Justinian (527-565) and Theodora
          A. Keeping Up Appearances
                    • Germanic invasions (Ostrogoths/Vandals)
                    • Ambition
                    • Role of Christianity
          B. Justinian's Rule
                    • Reunite Empire
                         - Belisarius
                    • Legal Reforms
                           - jus vetus (old law)
                           - jus novum (new law)
                    •  Corpus Juris Civilis
                           - Codex Justinianus
                           - Digest
                           - Institutes
                    • Golden Age of Art, Literature, and Architecture
                           - Mosaic of the Donors
                           - Hagia Sophia (Pict#1)
      

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For a beautiful slide show of modern Istanbul's sights including the Hagia Sophia, and the Golden Horn see the NY Time's feature "Istanbul:  Two Continents, Three Days."