Byzantine Decline and Fall

Overview

This lecture covers the decline and resilience of the Byzantine Empire from the late 12th century through its fall in 1453, highlighting the empire's challenges, temporary recoveries, and lasting cultural impact.

The Sack of Constantinople and Aftermath

• The Byzantine Empire faced internal strife and reliance on Italian merchant states like Venice and Genoa.
• In 1204, the Fourth Crusade sacked Constantinople, instigated by Venice, devastating the city and empire.
• The Latin Empire replaced Byzantine rule, splitting Greek lands among Western powers.
• Byzantine nobles founded successor states in Nicaea, Trebizond, and Epirus to preserve Hellenic rule.

Restoration and Challenges

• The Nicaean state reconquered Constantinople in 1261, restoring the Byzantine Empire under Michael Palaiologos.
• The empire struggled with weakened defenses, rival Italian merchant factions, and problematic mercenary armies.
• Civil wars and financial crises led to the loss of royal treasures and reliance on Venetian support.
• The Black Death in the 1340s caused major population and economic decline.

External Threats and Autonomy

• The growing Ottoman Empire posed a major threat, gradually conquering Byzantine territory.
• Venice and Genoa dominated Aegean trade and frequently conflicted within Constantinople.
• The Morea (Peloponnese) became an autonomous, prosperous Byzantine outpost, a center for Hellenic culture and administration.

Fall of Constantinople and Legacy

• In 1453, Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople using massive cannons, ending the empire.
• Emperor Constantine XI died in battle, symbolizing Byzantine resistance.
• The Ottomans respected and preserved Hagia Sophia, converting it into a mosque.
• Greek culture persisted in Venetian-held territories like Crete and the Ionian Islands, influencing the Renaissance.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Byzantine Empire — Eastern Roman Empire, centered on Constantinople.
• Fourth Crusade — 1204 Crusade that sacked Constantinople instead of reaching the Holy Land.
• Latin Empire — Crusader state established in former Byzantine territories after 1204.
• Nicaea, Trebizond, Epirus — Successor Byzantine states formed after Constantinople’s fall.
• Morea — Byzantine-controlled Peloponnese, center of late Byzantine culture.
• Ottoman Empire — Turkish Muslim state that conquered Byzantium in 1453.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review maps of the Byzantine Empire before and after 1204 to visualize territorial changes.
• Read about the impact of the Black Death on medieval societies.
• Study the influence of Byzantine culture on Renaissance art and scholarship.