Historia del IMPERIO BIZANTINO - Resumen | Origen, auge y decadencia.

The Byzantine Empire: Origins and Development

The Division of the Roman Empire

• The Roman Empire was in decline during the late 4th century due to power struggles and economic crises, leading Emperor Theodosius to divide it into Eastern and Western territories.

• While the Western Roman Empire disintegrated by the 5th century due to Germanic invasions, the Eastern part remained intact and powerful, with Constantinople as its capital.

Rise of Justinian I

• Known as the Byzantine Empire, this eastern territory included modern-day Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt.

• Under Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century, efforts were made to reclaim lost western territories using a strong army led by General Belisarius.

• Justinian's military campaigns successfully conquered North Africa and parts of Italy by defeating the Vandals and Ostrogoths.

Economic Prosperity and Legal Reforms

• Constantinople became Europe's largest commercial center where valuable goods like silk from China and spices from India were traded.

• A new legal code was established that incorporated significant Roman laws, forming a foundation for future European legal systems.

Infrastructure Development

• Justinian initiated extensive public works projects including roads, bridges, walls, courts, schools, hospitals, and churches such as Hagia Sophia.

Challenges After Justinian's Death

• Following Justinian’s death, the empire faced territorial challenges due to military expenses and economic crises exacerbated by plague outbreaks.

• External attacks from Lombards in Italy began shortly after his death; subsequent conflicts with Persians and Slavs further weakened the empire.

Decline of Territory

• Arab expansions resulted in significant territorial losses for Byzantium including Syria and Palestine; however, Constantinople resisted an attempted conquest thanks to Greek fire technology.

Cultural Shifts

• By the 8th century Latin fell out of use as Greek became the official language; historians began referring to this period as Byzantine rather than Roman.

Religious Tensions

• Christianity played a crucial role in society; tensions arose when Emperor Leo III banned religious icons leading to societal conflict.

• This decision distanced Byzantine Church leadership from Rome's Catholic Church.

Recovery Under Macedonian Emperors

• In the 10th century under Macedonian emperors' policies promoting trade with Western Europe led to economic growth for Constantinople.

The Decline of the Byzantine Empire and the Rise of the Ottoman Turks

Cultural and Religious Influence

• During this period, Eastern European nations such as Serbia, Bulgaria, and Kievan Rus adopted Byzantine Christianity, marking a significant cultural shift under Emperor Basil II's reign.

Fall of Constantinople

• In 1204, Constantinople was sacked, leading to a weakened Byzantine Empire that entered a prolonged decline. Concurrently, the Muslim Ottoman Turks began threatening its borders from the mid-14th century.

• The Ottomans gradually defeated Byzantine forces and laid siege to Constantinople. By this time, many residents had fled, leaving only a small population to defend against the powerful Ottoman army led by Sultan Mehmed II.

The Final Assault

• In 1453, the Ottomans breached Constantinople's defenses. Emperor Constantine XI and his guard fought valiantly but ultimately perished in battle. This event marked the end of the Byzantine Empire.

Transformation of Istanbul

• Following its conquest, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque, and Constantinople was renamed Istanbul—becoming the new capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Impact on Western Europe