Revision Topic Sheet 3: Byzantine Empire Decline Flashcards
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What were the two most significant events of the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great?
- Conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity.
2. Foundation of Constantinople.
What were the two main causes of the decline of the Byzantine Empire in the 11th century?
- Religious divisions.
2. Military weaknesses.
What caused the relationship between the Christians and the Fatamids?
The Emperor in 1000 was strong enough to challenge the power of the Fatamid Caliphate which was beginning to replace the Abbasid Caliphate. Emperor Basil II signed a truce as he realised he couldn’t simultaneously guard his northern border and attack the Holy Lands.
How was the relationship between the Christians and Fatamids?
Christians treated well under the Fatamids for 50 years as they worked to defend Turcoman invasions.
How did a decline in Byzantine power occur?
Rich men gained greater amounts of land at the expense of the peasants, which allowed them to raise their own armies and challenge the Emperor whilst eroding the power base of the Byzantine army at the same time.
How did the influence of the Byzantine Empire decline?
The death of Empress Theodora left a power vacuum, which then led to the successor Emperor Isaac Komnenus having to rule without the support of civil service. Constantine X attempted to combat this by reducing the size and influence of the army, but this backfired as the empire came under attack from the Normans in Italy and the Turks in Anatolia.
How did the Battle of Manzikert start?
Constantine X’s death in Turkish raids in 1067 urged new Emperor Romanus Diogenes to forcibly intercept Muslim leader Alp-Arslan.
What was the result of the Battle of Manzikert?
The reduced Byzantine army was betrayed by mercenaries from the Roman Turks and Normandy, which coupled with the tactics employed by the Seljuks led to the destruction of the Byzantine army, which led to Romanus’ capture and him having to pay ransom and hand over the cities of Manzikert, Antioch and Edessa which paved the way for the conquest of Anatolia by Sulaiman.
What further actions led to the Seljuks capturing virtually all of Anatolia in 10 years?
- After the Battle of Manzikert the Byzantines deposed Romanus to set the Ducas clan in power with Michael VIII as emperor.
- Government seceded from Anatolia as this move made the agreement with Alp-Arslan null and void.
- In 1078 Nicephorus Botaneiates marched with Turkish mercenaries to seize the throne from Emperor Michael VIII.
- Nicephorus ceded the cities of Cyzicus, Nicomedia, Chalcedon and Chrysopolis to Sulaiman to become his vassal.
- A rebellion from Nicephorus Melissenus who almost captured Constantinople in 1080 led to Sulaiman capturing Nicea and making the capital of the Great Seljuk Sultanate.
Who was Alexios Komnenus?
A skilled general who became Emperor after Nicephorus Botaneiates abdicated.
How did Alexios help stabilise the Byzantine Empire?
He had alliances with Romanus Diogenes and Constantine X through marriages in his family.
How did Alexios help drive the Normans from Italy?
Bribed German Emperor Henry IV to attack the Normans in Italy.
Who were the Pechenegs?
Tribes that forced Alexios to sign a truce and pay protection money - they captured Northern Greece in 1090 but Alexios defeated them at the Battle of Levinion in 1091.
How had the threat of the Turks diminished?
Malik Shah’s death divided the Muslims and Sulaiman was defeated in battle.
How did Alexios take advantage of this?
He sent envoys to Pope Urban II to request extra soldiers from the West and gain his support in recruiting mercenaries.
