AP WORLD CHAPTERS 13-16

1. Constantinople was major site of crafts and industry
   1. Glass, linen, textiles, gems, jewelry, gold, and silver
   2. Silk developed into major industry in sixth century; secrets came from China
2. Constantinople was clearinghouse for trade
   1. Bezant was the standard currency of Mediterranean basin
   2. Western anchor of trade route revived silk roads

Istanbul is now Constantinople as decided by the Turks when they took over.

1. 1. Fifth century, eastern half of empire remained intact while west crumbled
   2. Challenges: Sasanids and Germans
   3. Highly centralized state
      1. Emperor with aura of divinity--Caesaropapism
      2. Large and complex bureaucracy

1. Islamic conquests and Byzantine revival
   1. The emergence of the Islamic state, seventh century
      1. Arab peoples conquered the Sasanid empire and part of Byzantium
      2. Prolonged sieges of Constantinople by Islamic armies
      3. Byzantium survived partly because of Greek fire
   2. Byzantine society reorganized
      1. Provinces (themes) under generals
      2. Armies of free peasants helped agricultural economy
2. Byzantium and western Europe: ecclesiastical and political tensions

1. Constantinople and Rome: strains mirrored political tensions
2. Ritual and doctrinal differences, such as iconoclasm
3. Schism in 1054--Eastern Orthodox versus Roman Catholic

Caesaropapism was a policy that Constantine came up with. It was the concept relating the mixing of political and religious authority. This was important because of the authority it held and also because it played an important role in ecclesiastical affairs.

Justinian was the most important emperor of the byzantine time. He was very energetic all the time and was titled “the sleepless emperor.” Theodora was his wife who helped him greatly while he was an emperor. After riots’ broke out over Constantinople Justinian started to rebuild the city. Both Justinian and his wife were very similar and helped each other out, they were important for their accomplishments, and aids to the city. Justinian’s most significant accomplishment although is his contribution to Roman law.

Defnce and civil administration under justinian. novblized quickly and resist further islamic advances.

“Greek Fire”: Greek fire was “ a devastating incendiary weapon compounded of sulphur, lime and petroleum.” They laughed this “Greek fire” at invaders. Greek fire was harmful and could potentially lead to death. Greek fire could hurt even if it was just floating in the air. Greek fire is important because it was a great way of defense.

Frankish ruler who recived and imperial crown from the people of rome. chllnged byzantine cliams to imperial authroity over western lands.

Latin to greeek

1. State-organized school system trained workforce
   1. Primary education: reading, writing, grammar
   2. Later education: classical Greek, literature, philosophy, science
   3. Higher education in Constantinople: law, medicine, philosophy
2. Byzantine scholarship emphasized Greek tradition
   1. Wrote commentaries on Greek literature
   2. Preserved and transmitted Greek thought to later cultures

1. he Umayyad dynasty (661-750 C.E.)
   1. The dynasty temporarily solved problem of succession
   2. Established capital city at Damascus in Syria
   3. Ruled the dar al-Islam for the interests of Arabian military aristocracy
2. Policy toward conquered peoples
   1. Levied jizya (head tax) on those who did not convert to Islam
   2. Even the non-Arab converts were discriminated against
3. Umayyad decline, due to discontent of conquered and resistance of Shia

1. 1. 1. 1. The Abbasid dynasty (750-1258 C.E.)
      2. 1. Showed no special favor to Arab military aristocracy
         2. No longer conquering, but the empire still grew
      3. Abbasid administration
         1. Relied heavily on Persian techniques of statecraft
         2. Central authority ruled from the court at Baghdad
         3. Appointed governors to rule provinces
         4. Ulama ("people with religious knowledge") and qadis (judges) ruled locally
      4. Harun al-Rashid (786-809 C.E.), high point of Abassid dynasty
      5. Abbasid decline
         1. Struggle for succession between Harun's sons led to civil war
         2. Governors built their own power bases
         3. Popular uprisings and peasant rebellions weakened the dynasty
         4. 
            

The Shia

1. The Shia sect originally supported Ali and descendents as caliph
2. Versus the Sunnis ("traditionalists"), the Shias accepted legitimacy of early caliphs
3. Different beliefs: holy days for leaders, Ali infallible
4. Ongoing conflict between the two sects