What was the Byzantine Period?

Answer

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire (sometimes referred to as “Byzantium”), was the most enduring medieval power. Throughout its history, the Byzantine Empire governed territories in Italy, Greece, the Balkans, the Levant, Asia Minor, and North Africa. It wielded significant influence over political structures, religion, art, and architecture. The Byzantine Empire thrived from around AD 330 to 1453. Its demise occurred on Tuesday, May 29, 1453, when the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II captured the capital city, Constantinople.

Constantinople was constructed on the ancient grounds of the city of Byzantium and was established by Emperor Constantine I, who reigned from AD 306 to 337. Constantine initially named the capital “New Rome,” but it was later renamed in his honor following his death. Over time, the city evolved into the most prominent Christian city globally, and a Byzantine Emperor managed to retain power for 12 centuries.

The church within the Byzantine Empire was overseen by a bishop appointed or dismissed by the emperor. Christianity played a crucial role in unifying diverse cultures within the empire, encompassing Greeks, Armenians, Slavs, Georgians, and various other ethnic groups, as well as individuals of different faiths who were permitted to practice their religions freely.

Starting from the fourth century, the church had five patriarchs or leaders, each governing a specific region or patriarchate. These patriarchates were situated in Rome in the West, and in Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Byzantium in the East. Initially, minor disputes in language and doctrine arose between the Western (Latin-speaking) church in Rome and the Eastern (Greek-speaking) patriarchates in Constantinople and the other three cities. However, over time, these discrepancies escalated into a profound rift between the Eastern and Western branches of the church. In the eleventh century, a r

If known as the Great Schism formed between the Western, or Roman Catholic Church; and the Eastern, or Greek Orthodox Church.

There were several areas of concern between the church of the Byzantine Empire and the church of Rome: the use of leavened or unleavened bread in communion, the use of imagery or icons, and the requirement of celibacy in priests, for example. Also contributing to the schism was a dispute over the sending of the Holy Spirit—did the Holy Spirit proceed from the Father only, or from the Father and the Son?

The Crusades also figure into the history of the Byzantine Empire. In particular, the Fourth Crusade affected Byzantium directly, as in April 1204 Western armies sent by Pope Innocent III conquered Constantinople. The original goal of the Fourth Crusade had been to recapture Jerusalem from the Muslims, but it somehow ended with an attack on the Byzantine Empire and the sacking and looting of its capital. This resulted in several years of Western rule over Byzantium. Following a time of conflict between Western forces and the Nicaeans, Constantinople was freed from Western rule in 1261.

The influence of Christianity in the Byzantine Empire is seen to this day in remains or restorations of domed churches; impressive basilicas; intricately decorated and enameled plates, cups, jewelry, and Bible covers; and religious icons, wall paintings, and mosaics found everywhere from Egypt to Russia. In turn, the Byzantine Empire had a great impact on the form of Christianity in the East. This is seen in the continuation of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Greece and eastern Europe and among various Slavic populations. The influence of Byzantium is also felt today in Ethiopia, in Egypt among the Coptic Christians, and in Armenia among those of the Oriental Orthodox Church.