Constantinople & the World in 1000
History: KS3, topic 3.2.1
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Constantinople & the World in 1000
In what year did Christianity become the Byzantine Empire's official religion?
Which of the following was NOT a threat faced by the Byzantine Empire?