3.2.1

Constantinople & the World in 1000

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Constantinople and the World in 1000

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. It was seen as the centre of European Christianity at the time.

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Background

  • The city was known as Byzantium until 330 when Emperor Constantine moved the empire's capital to the newly-named Constantinople.
  • The city was ruled by Empress Zoe until around 1000. The city was incredibly wealthy and helped connect the Muslim world, the Byzantine Empire, and Western Christendom.
  • Constantinople sat at the heart of the movement of goods, people, and ideas.
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Christianity in the Byzantine Empire

  • Christianity became the empire's official religion in 380.
    • Christianity had spread throughout Western Europe following the fall of the Roman Empire.
    • The Church developed a physical presence and a more organised structure.
    • Rome was the centre of Western European Christianity. Many churches and monasteries were established in Rome.
    • But, the Eastern Orthodox Church was led from Constantinople.
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Religious centre

  • Though disputed, Constantinople was seen as the main centre of European Christendom.
  • The Hagia Sofia was a large church in Constantinople built in 537.
    • It had the biggest dome in the world and contained religious treasures such as the golden mosaics of Christ and wood from Noah's ark.
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Geographical neighbours

  • The Byzantine Empire faced threats from the North, West, and East.
    • Tribesman raided Byzantine lands in the North, divisions were building with the Roman Catholic Church within the West and the mighty Islamic Empire stood in the East.
  • Some rulers of the Islamic Empire and Byzantine Empire had seized power by force.
    • This often meant that one empire would conquer towns and cities of the other, creating tension and anger.
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The final Byzantine-Russian war

  • An example of the threat faced by Constantinople was the attack of Russian ships on Constantinople in 1043.
  • This was part of the final Byzantine-Russian War. Conflict had been brewing between the two for the previous 200 years.
  • These are all precursors of events to come in the medieval period.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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