Standard(s) of Learning

WHI.7		The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Byzantine Empire and Russia from about 300 to 1000 A.D. (C.E.) by
		a)	explaining the establishment of Constantinople as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire;
		b)	identifying Justinian and his contributions, including the codification of Roman law, and describing the expansion of the Byzantine Empire and economy;
		c)	characterizing Byzantine art and architecture and the preservation of Greek and Roman traditions;
		d)	explaining disputes that led to the split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church;
		e)	mapping and assessing the impact of Byzantine influence and trade on Russia and Eastern Europe.

NOTE: The Virginia Board of Education adopted the revised 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning at the January 10, 2008, meeting. Full implementation of these documents is scheduled for the 2010-2011 school year, as outlined in Superintendent’s Memorandum Informational Number 49. 

Content

Explain that the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire was changed to Constantinople to provide political, economic, and military advantages.

Summarize the importance of the location of Constantinople, using the following information as a guide:
•    Protection of the eastern frontier
•    Distance from Germanic invasions in the western empire
•    Crossroads of trade
•    Easily fortified site on a peninsula bordering natural harbor

Summarize the role of Constantinople as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, using the following information as a guide:
•    Seat of the Byzantine Empire until Ottoman conquest                                                     
•    Preserved classical Greco-Roman culture                                                                      

Explain that, as the first to codify Roman law, Justinian provided the basis for the law codes of Western Europe.                                                                                                                

Explain that, under Justinian, the Byzantine Empire reached its height in culture and prosperity.

Summarize the influence of Emperor Justinian on the expansion of the Byzantine Empire, using the following information as a guide:
•    Codification of Roman law (impact on European legal codes)                                          
•    Reconquest of former Roman territories                                                                        
•    Expansion of trade                                                                                                        

Explain that Greek Orthodox Christianity and imperial patronage enabled the Byzantine Empire to develop a unique style of art and architecture.                                                                      

Explain that Greek and Roman traditions were preserved in the Byzantine Empire.                 

Summarize the contributions of Byzantine art and architecture, using the following information as a guide:
•    Inspiration provided by Christian religion and imperial power                                           
•    Icons (religious images)                                                                                                
•    Mosaics in public and religious structures                                                                       
•    Hagia Sophia (a Byzantine domed church)                                                                     

Explain how Greek and Roman culture survived with the Byzantine Empire, using the following information as a guide:
•    Continued flourishing of Greco-Roman traditions                                                            
•    Greek language (as contrasted with Latin in the West)                                                    
•    Greek Orthodox Christianity                                                                                          
•    Greek and Roman knowledge preserved in Byzantine libraries.                                        

Explain that the cultural and political differences between the eastern and western Roman Empire weakened the unity of the Christian Church and led to its division.                                         

Summarize the characteristics of the Eastern and Western Church and explain the division with the Christian Church, using the following information as a guide:
Eastern Church
•    Centered in Constantinople                                                                                            
•    Close to seat of power after Constantinople became capital                                            
•    Use of Greek language in the liturgy                                                                              
Western Church
•    Centered in Rome                                                                                                        
•    Farther from seat of power after Constantinople became capital                                      
•    Use of Latin language in the liturgy                                                                                
Division between Western and Eastern Churches
•    Authority of the Pope eventually accepted in the West                                                    
•    Practices such as celibacy eventually accepted in the West                                             

Explain that Byzantine civilization influenced Russian and Eastern European civilizations through its religion, culture, and trade.                                                                                                  

Summarize the influence of Byzantine culture on Eastern Europe and Russia, using the following information as a guide:
•    Trade routes between Black Sea and Baltic Sea                                                             
•    Adoption of Orthodox Christianity by Russia and much of Eastern Europe                       
•    Adoption of Greek alphabet to the Slavic languages by St. Cyril (Cyrillic alphabet)            
•    Church architecture and religious art                                                                              

Sample Resources

Below is an annotated list of Internet resources for this organizing topic. Copyright restrictions may exist for the material on some Web sites. Please note and abide by any such restrictions.

“Hagia Sophia.” Architecture Weekly. <http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Hagia_Sophia.html>

“Byzantine Studies on the Internet.” Internet History Sourcebook Project. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/byzantium/>. This site provides information on Byzantium.

 “Cyrillic Alphabet.” PBS. <http://www.pbs.org/weta/faceofrussia/reference/cyrillic.html>. This site provides a chart of the Cyrillic alphabet.

“Cyrillic Alphabet.” Friends and Partners. <http://www.friends-partners.org/oldfriends/language/russian-alphabet.html>. This site provides a list of the Cyrillic alphabet as well as verbal pronunciation of the alphabet.

“Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Chronology.” Princeton University. <http://www.music.princeton.edu/~jeffery/byzchron.html>. This site provides a chronology of Eastern Orthodox Christianity from the year 301 through the 1990s.

“Mosaic Project.” History for Kids. <http://www.historyforkids.org/crafts/projects/mosaic.htm>. This site provides directions on how to make a mosaic.

“The Ottoman Empire.” Infoplease. <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0860176.html>. This site provides a history of the Ottoman Empire.

“The Ottomans.” Washington State University. <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/OTTOMAN/OTTOMAN1.HTM>. This site provides a brief history of the Ottomans. For more details, click on “Next” at the bottom of each screen.

Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning: History and Social Science Released Items for WorldHistoryI.Virginia Department of Education 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/Release2003/History/VA-RIBs_g11wh1-1.pdf>.

Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning. World History and Geography  to 1500 A.D. Test Blueprint. Virginia Department of Education, 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/2002Blueprint7WHI.pdf>. This site provides assessment information for World History and Geography to 1500 A.D.

Welcome to Istanbul. Princeton University. <http://www.princeton.edu/~asce/const_95/const.html>. This site provides information on the Hagia Sophia and other topographical information on Constantinople.