Founded in 330 AD by Constantine the Great. The base of the city was Constantinople. The Byzantine Empire emerged from 395 AD and lasted to 1453 AD. The term Byzantine was given to this territory by 18th century historians. For people that lived in this time period in this area of the world, they referred to themselves as Romans since they could trace many parts of their historical and political identity from the Roman Empire. In it's history, the city of Constantinople was also called Byzantium.

The Byzantine Empire is the combination
1. Roman Government
2. Hellenistic (Greek) Culture
3. Christian Religion

Many cultures/countries emerged from this area:
Greeks
Vlachs (Albanians)
Armenians
Jews
Egyptians
Syrians
Illyrian's (western part of Greek Peninsula)
Slavs

The Byzantine Empire was able to avoid the Barbarian invasions that changed Western Europe
The Byzantine Empire did not cower under the Viking invasions, nor did they enter the world of Feudalism
Why??
1. Negotiation
2. Strong Urban culture
3. Walls of Constantinople

The Golden Years

Late 9th, 10th, 11th centuries
Time of the Viking Raids
The Eastern and Western churches were gradually separating until it became official in 1054 AD
The Great Schism
The Byzantine Empire even though it has Christian roots did not believe in the authority of the Pope
However, the Byzantine Empire believed that their religious leaders should have an insight to the agenda of their government.

The Byzantine world was much more advanced, prosperous, and clean than Feudal Europe.
The city of Constantinople had piped water, sewage system, hospitals, maternity wards, old folks homes, and public baths.

They were able to do this because of the preservation of education and the arts
Ancient texts were not destroyed, but rather studied
Their gold coin was considered valuable from India to Spain.

They negotiated peace, instead of fighting.
They were friends to the world.
They had trade routes extending to China, North Africa, and to the Vikings.

The Byzantine Empire was an autocracy
The Emperor controlled all facets of government along with the Orthodox Church

Women’s rights in Byzantine society were better than other parts of the world before, during, and after the Byzantine Empire.

It was still a patriarchal society, but women held various rights:
1. Run businesses
2. Participation in the church
3. Political affairs
4. Inherit property

Byzantine women could also learn to read and write, however higher education was still reserved for males.
Marriage was arranged in Byzantine society.
Most girls were taught how to raise children and run a household.

Byzantine citizens were mostly farmers that lived in communities of over 100 people.
Strength in numbers made them difficult to attack. Western Europeans lived more isolated lives.

Soldiers were first farmers, then soldiers
Villagers had either one or two story houses
They lived a better life than their Western counterparts.

The diet of the Byzantines were the following: grain, olives, olive oil, fish, beans, vegetables, cabbage, onions