HISTORY 1CC3 Lecture 4: Byzantine Empire
26 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Elements of roman empire- emperors who where military men (supported by the military), highly militarized from 1st century ce onward. Emperor constantine was a general who was born in present day serbia- illyrian generals/emperors. Organizational problem of empires- decentralize, break up into 4 units and then into east and west (tetrarchs), causes confusion. Constantine was proclaimed emperor of rome by his soldiers- cosmopolitan figure, suppressed rebellions, established eastern headquarters for roman. Co(cid:374)sta(cid:374)ti(cid:374)e"s i(cid:373)porta(cid:374)(cid:272)e- constantinople held up after the collapse of the west empire and dark ages there, and constantine was the one who made christianity the official religion of roman empire. Imperial authority survived as long as the city survived- why byzantine empire is considered a continuous empire even though it was breached. Christian armies) looted city, destroyed some of its history. Continuous long distance trade- from china, from the north/baltic (vikings- worked for the byzantine empire as bodyguards, etc)
