Lecture 11: Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul, Venice Flashcards

1
Q

Spolia

A

Latin: spolium

are stones taken from an existing structure and repurposed for new construction/included for decorative purposes

i.e Medusa heads from the Basilica cistern in Istanbul

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2
Q

Bosphorus Region

A

Natural bridge between Europe and Asia.

Pliny Elder “Natural History” : Lygos settlement populated by Thracians in the 13th century BCE

  • Only passage connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean which allowed powers in the place to regulate and tax extensive trade routes that passed through the strait.

–> Even now, 3% of world’s daily oil consumption passes through Bosphorus

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3
Q

Montreux Convention 1936

A

Negotiated to allow Turkey the authority to regulate the passage of naval warships and impose restrictions during wartime

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4
Q

Istanbul etymology

A

Istanbul from Greek [eis tên polin -dans la ville]

The geographical setting resulted in a constant flow of trade and cultural exchanges, city absorbed influences from Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman

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5
Q

Byzantium

A

657 BCE city founded by Greek colonists from Megara. Close to Chalcedon settlers

a. Herodotus. Megabyzus a Achaemenid Persian general mocking Megarian inhabitants of Chalcedon as blind bc they chose the worse of 2 cities.

at Black Sea’s only entrance – Byzantium conquered Chalcedon across Bosphorus

Attlaus III of Pergamon, having no heir, left his kingdom to Roman Republic. Rome acquired Chalcedon in 74 BCE.

  • The roots of Greek traditions and language, the city being close to Hellenistic states blended with Roman influence and military strength resulting in Greek-Roman syncretism in Byzantium.
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6
Q

Whats an example of spolia?

A

The Tetrarch statue (300CE)
- St Mark Basilica in Venice
- Roman empire was ruled by a tetrarchy consisting of 2 Augusti / 2 Caesars — DIVIDED into western and eastern territories
- armed and in military garb = collective power

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7
Q

Greek tradition of rulers portraits

A

Kouroi/Ptolemaic art
a. Military Virtue: symbolizing power, honour, authority
b. Embracing Figures: tightly grouped and embracing each
c. Greek iconography: idealized characters and serene depictions

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8
Q

Constantinople

A

Byzantium is located on an elevation and had a well-protected harbour on the Golden Horn.
The sea bordered it on three sides, to the north (the Golden Horn), to the east (Bosphorus) and to the south (Sea of Marmara), the only fortification required to enclose the city was a wall in the west.

-Constantinople was designed as a new centre for the Christian monotheist faith. It would eventually become the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople which would rival the Pope in Rome.

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9
Q

Constantine’s dream

A

Lactantius (religious advisor): Constantine commanded in a dream to delineate the heavenly sign on the the shields of his soldiers

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10
Q

Constantine (reigned 306-337CE)

A

named Great by the Church. First Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Promulgated the edict of tolerance.( edict of Milan in 313 CE)

324CE expressed strategic interest

330CE settled in Constantinople

–> Rome is the model, hippodrome.
–> The acropolis of Byzantium: temple of APhrodite, sanctuary of Apollo sacrifices are offered to God, Constantine stopped financing them

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11
Q

Edict of Milan

A

proclamation that established religious tolerance for Christianity within Roman Empire

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12
Q

First Council of Nicaea 324 CE

A

Organized by Constantine to prevent dissesion, addressing entire body of believers

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13
Q

Emperor Theodosius I

A

Last ruler of the unified Roman Empire. Abolishes paganism in 392 CE with Edict of Thessalonica –> CHRISTIANIZATION of the empire

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14
Q

Artefacts

A
  1. Constantine as Jupiter 311-315AD. holding a globe and a scepter– considered second founder of Rome
  2. The Serpent Column 479 BC: commemorate Greek victory over the Persian empire at Battle of Plataea which marked the end of Persian invasions of Greece
  • commissioned by 31 Greek city states dedicated to Apollo
  • 4th centuryCE: Constantine ordered it to be relocated to associate his Christian capital with glories of Greek culture
  1. Use of pagan sculptures as objects of embellishment
    - diminished religious context
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15
Q

Roman-Christian Syncretism

A
  • Combination of the Roman sun god Sol Invictus and Christian god
  • symbolizing rulership of both earthly and divine realms
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16
Q

Pagan Influence in a Christian Emperor’s Capital :
Mary Balzer

A

It was expected that Constantine, as a Christian Emperor, would remove pagan vestigia entirely
Constantine is often characterised as an extremely pious Christian by historians, he did not build a chapel in his own personal palace and did not make Christianity the official state religion.

Constantinople was the home of two relatively unknown martyrs, Mocius and Acacius, who were persecuted under Diocletian and venerated locally. Sozomen, a historian of the Christian Church born in the early V century in Palestine, refers to a great oak tree outside the city walls where Constantine replaced a pagan shrine with a Christian building to honour the martyrdom of Mocius. He also had two Christian structures dedicated to Mocius and Acacius.

16
Q

Edict of Thessalonica

A

made Nicene Christianity state religion

17
Q

Justinian I (527-565AD)

A

Codified Roman law with Christian influence with the Corpus Juris Civilis completed in 534CE.
- code criminalized paganism

18
Q

References in China to the “ rare and extraordinary products of the West” :

A

Roman East was transparent glass. Chinese craftsmen was familiar with glass paste, they called liuli, (for pseudo jades, coloured pearls and crockery) but did not master , the technique for making transparent glass referred to as boli.

East roman empire glassware, late fifth to early sixth-century from Silla royal tombs in Korea.

An ancient Roman green glass cup discovered in an Eastern Han tomb of Guangxi, China.

19
Q

Silk during this time.

A

Sassanids obstructions to acquisition of silk led Byzantines to diversify their suppliers by turning to Indians + Sogdians. Through intermediary of Sogdian monks from Serindia Justinian obtained silkworms.

Byzantine: very administered/controlled

  • Edict of Diocletian 301, Edict on MAximum Prices attest to HIGH PRICE OF SILK

-The Rhodian sea law is a body of regulations governing commercial trade and navigation in the Byzantine EMpire in 7th century. Silk=gold/pearls/precious stones

20
Q

Byzantium decline

A

Challenges: Internal strife, economic instability, and territorial losses.
Fourth Crusade (1204): Sack of Constantinople by Western forces.
Fall of Constantinople (1453): Marked the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Venice’s Role

Venice gained from Byzantine decline, controlling trade in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Benefited from privileges like the 1082 Chrysobull granting tax exemptions

21
Q

Venice: Growth and Trade

A

Founded in 421 CE as a refuge, developed into a thalassocracy.
Strength in trade: Silk, spices, and slaves.
Innovations in banking, insurance, and printing.
Cultural Flourishing

Became a center of Renaissance art, architecture, and humanism.
Aldus Manutius revolutionized printing, spreading Greek texts.
Venice’s Decline

Shift of trade routes to the Atlantic.
Competition from maritime powers like Spain and Portugal.

22
Q

Thalassocracy

A

dominion over the seas.

Organised into family structures, Venetian merchants developed innovative trading and banking techniques, loans and insurances. Between the end of the XIV century and the middle of the XVI century, Venice was at the height of its power, being at the time a model for trade and commercial management.
The venetian entrepreneurs and businessmen also benefited from the support of the State, which used its arsenal and the resources of diplomacy, law and conquests in the Greek islands, the Byzantine Empire and on the other side of the Adriatic.
It resulted in an empire, both commercial and political, the Stato da Mar.
The overseas possessions and outposts, islands such as Corfu, Crete, and Cyprus, played a part in Venice’s commercial and military leadership.

1469 Printing arrived in Venice