Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:52 AM Sayfa
The Byzantine Period 395-1453
At the outset of the 4 th century, Rome had become a large empire
having territories on three continents. Emperor Diocletianus wanted
to ease the administration of his country-which was very extensiveand
to make ‹zmit the capital of Rome. However, when Constantine
the Great came to power, Byzantion was prepared as the capital. The
city was adorned with new structures and announced as the capital
city with a ceremony in 330. Afterwards, the city was named as
Constantinopolis. The Empire was divided into two in 395 as Eastern
and Western Rome. Rome became the center of the Western Roman
Empire, whereas Byzantium (‹stanbul) became the center of the
Eastern Roman Empire. Eastern Rome, which remained as the sole
Roman Empire after the western section was divided into various
feudal kingdoms and which left its mark on the Middle Ages, was to
be known as Byzantion later on and continued to exist until 1453.
Byzantium, which was the other name for the Eastern Roman
Empire, was derived from the old name of the capital ‹stanbul:
Byzantion. This name was a term used by historians in the 19 th
century. In other words, the Byzantine Empire was the continuation
of the eastern section of the Roman Empire. Perhaps, the word ‘Rum’
which we use today is a distorted way of naming the people who were
left from Byzantium as Romans.
Over its long history, Byzantium was not only a scene to many
historical events, but it also left traces of its culture and art in the
territories it owned. In the emergence and formation of the Byzantine
Civilization, different civilizations, particularly Anatolian, as well as
Iranian, Syrian, Egyptian, Italian, Balkan and various Mediterranean
civilizations were influential. The independent traces of the Byzantine
Civilization are best seen in the works of Anatolia. The start of
Byzantine art cannot be delineated sharply. During the initial stages,
it remained strictly committed to Roman art; however, Christianity
left its mark upon this Period. Therefore, Byzantine art is also called
Early Christianity Art. This period lasted until the first quarter of the
8 th century. The start of the Iconoclasm period in 726 caused a very
Mosaic of Emperor Constantine presenting a model of the city to
the Virgin Mary. Hagia Sophia.
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