Welcome Aboard!

Monday, February 16, 2009

All the people from all corners of the world should visit Byzantium, a place where diverse culture, great government, harmonious architecture and breathtaking geography comes to life. Bustling with energy and style, Constantinople embodies the finest of both Asia and Europe.

The Byzantium Empire emerged from the great Roman Empire which was separated when Emperor Constantine moved his capital to Constantinople, or otherwise known as Byzantium. Since then, two emperors governed the Roman Empire, one from Rome and the other from Byzantium, and eventually causing separation of the two empires.

From the many achievements of Constantinople, the ones that stand out most include the Hagia Sophia which symbolizes the Eastern Orthodoxy, the Justinian’s Code, which is a simple version of the Roman law, and the Golden Horn, which protects Constantinople from enemies and also serves as a trade route.

The Hagia Sophia is an Eastern Orthodox church famously known for its large dome and massive architecture. It is known as the epitome of Byzantine architecture. Constructed in 532 by Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, Hagia Sophia has stood the test of time for over 600 years.

Justinian’s Code was completed in 534 when emperor Justinian I became satisfied with what he created. The law provided a lot of positive aspects in the Byzantine civilization by improving women’s property rights, the Law of Nations, and the Civil Law.

Surrounded by three bodies of water, Constantinople is very well secured and connectable. The Golden Horn was the heart of the trade route between Europe and Asia; Constantinople is in the middle of it all. Over a million people visit Byzantium by sea every year, as it is a memorable ride with a lot of attractions to see.

With its heartwarming culture, and kind people, a trip to Byzantium is a holiday like no other. Constantinople has a blend of both the architectural world and rich cultures delivering enriching experiences.

Bibliography

First Picture - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_the_Seraglio_Point_from_Pera.jpg

Second Picture - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Diagrams/Hagia_Sophia.jpeg

Third Picture - "Hagia Sophia." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 13 Feb 2009, 07:00 UTC. 13 Feb 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hagia_Sophia&oldid=270393604>

The Golden Horn: Beauty of Byzantium

Visiting Byzantium is a must because it has characteristics no other empire does. The Byzantium Empire possesses a strong defense due to the geographical advantage it owns. Bounded on the south by the Sea of Marmara and on the north by the Golden Horn, the Byzantine Empire is securely placed in one of the safest places of the Middle Ages. In addition, Constantinople is located where most of the trade between Europe and Asia took place helping the Empire get items they could otherwise never have. Finally, Constantinople is surrounded three sides by water, which lets them keep a secure and stable defense system to protect their empire.

A visit to Byzantium is vital as it has extraordinary features such as the Golden Horn which is one of the most beautiful attractions in the world. With its astonishing defense system, the Golden Horn poses a beautiful and calm attraction for an ideal tourist. The Golden Horn separates Constantinople into two cities – one on the left side of the river, and one on the right. In addition to its beauty, the river is one of the most visited harbors in all of Asia. Trade is popular and most of the merchants come by boat.

Byzantium’s geography is much more diverse than Feudal Europe as it is more advanced and effective. Unlike most of Europe, Constantinople’s geography plays a vital role in its civilization. If someone attacked from the West, they could use the lands in the East to help repulse it. When someone attacked from the other side, they could use the lands in the West to repulse it.

Due to Constantine’s wise decision of moving his capital to Constantinople, the geography is different for the people of his empire to the people of empires in Europe. Although people might think that Constantinople is isolated, they are mistaken. It is one of the busiest cities in the world attracting many tourists.

Bibliography

Third Picture - Wikipedia

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Cruiser_Varyag_in_the_Golden_Horn_Bay.png

First Picture - Chest of Books

http://chestofbooks.com/travel/turkey/constantinople/John-Stoddard-Lectures/images/The-Golden-Horn.png

Second Picture - Encyclopedia Americana

http://www.odograph.com/data/2006/10/09/constantinople.jpg

"Constantinople." Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 12 Feb. 2009 .

Charanis, Peter. "Byzantium." Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 11 Feb. 2009 .

"Byzantium." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 2009. Grolier Online. 11 Feb. 2009 .

Justinian's Code: An Invention that matches no other

One of the most important reasons that people should come and visit Byzantium is that it embraces to an unwavering government which is aided by laws freshly brewed directly from the old Roman Empire. A set of laws most significant in the Byzantine Empire is the Justinian’s Code, a collection that strongly embodies the strength and stability of Byzantium’s government. The Justinian’s Code was instituted by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 527 and was commissioned by Tribonian, his legal minister with the aid of several scholars. In 529, Tribonians group was able to finish gathering the 12 books of law in just 14 months, thus creating the “Code”, a name used to describe the creation of the first committee. Afterwards, a second committee followed constructing more than 9,000 extract and addition, making them into 50 books collectively known as the “Digest”. Last but not the least, came the “Institutes”, an especially conjured set of laws made for students so that they may allow the knowledge of the Justinian’s Code to flow into them like a continuous fountain of wisdom. The diverse set of laws gathered in the Justinian’s Code is uniquely different from the feudal laws mainly because the type of government and law in Byzantium does not focus of feudalistic practices. Rather than a government having a lord and a vassal exchange loyalty and land, the Byzantine Empire has a bureaucratic administration where there is an emperor wielding absolute power and varying people beneath him doing different functions of the empire. Also, the empire has the Justinian’s Code separated into three law divisions, such as the natural law, national law, and the civil law. These differences among the government and jurisdiction between the Western Feudal Europe and the Eastern Byzantine Empire arose because both parties had different kinds of people, who had different ways of thinking what would be best for the all.
Even with those differences, people must not consider them as obstacles, but rather encouragement because by accepting the distinction of the two cultures a person will realize that there is a world out there with such a special form of management far from being feudal. Instead of following the lords and vassals making homage and sharing fiefs, or the knights and nobles saying oaths of loyalty, come and see the type of political life people have in Byzantium under its government and the Justinian’s Code. Bibliography
Jenkins, Romilly J. H. "Byzantine Empire." Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 13 Feb. 2009 .

Bourne, Frank. "Justinian Code." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 2009. Grolier Online. 14 Feb. 2009 .

Frey, Wendy. History Alive: The Medieval World and Beyond. Pab Alto, CA:
Teacher's Curriculum Institute, 2005.

First Picture - http://www.lexscripta.com/graphix/advocate/justinian.jpg

Second Picture - http://orias.berkeley.edu/summer2004/summer2004JustinianCode.htm

Third Picture - http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Diptych_Barberini_Louvre_OA9063_whole.jpg/300px-Diptych_Barberini_Louvre_OA9063_whole.jpg

Religious Marvel of Byzantium: Hagia Sophia

Saturday, February 14, 2009

People from all the corners of the globe should come and gather to Byzantium, a city full of culture and religion represented by the great church, Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia is one of the Eastern Orthodox churches of the Byzantine Empire, and among all of them, it is considered as the most significant, symbolic, and important. This specific architectural marvel embodies the religion of the empire, Easter Orthodoxy.

Hagia Sophia is a Greek word for “Holy Wisdom” and it was built by the Emperor Justinian I in his renovation of Byzantium after a massive revolution. The construction of the building began in 532 CE, and finished just 5 years later in 537 CE. Its architectural design, along with the other Orthodox churches is very unique and different from the Roman Catholic churches of Feudal Europe. Instead of having a structure with the similar shape as a Roman cross, Hagia Sophia has a rectangular base with the dimensions of 260 feet by 240. The house of worship also possesses a high and elaborate dome with a diameter of 30 meters. These architectural characteristics developed due to the belief of the religion; the bare box-like base symbolizes Earth, while the heavily decorated dome indicates the glory of heaven. Feudal Europeans should certainly accept this difference among the religious architectural structures because people originating from different parts of the world view God from a different prospective.

Another reason people should visit Hagia Sophia is because it houses riches and jewels which represents the wealth of the whole Byzantium Empire. The anto (a name for the reading podium), the iconostasis (a screen separating the sanctuary from the nave), and the ciborium (canopy) are all made from silver. And furthermore, the altar and crucifix are of 24 carat, solid shining gold. Brick was the material used to construct the walls, arches, and vaults, and located at the upper part of these are mosaics with a background of gold too.

The Hagia Sophia, located at Byzantium, is a must see for each and every Feudal Europeans because its splendid beauty is without a doubt a spectacle to see. The religion of the empire is most certainly symbolized by this church, and in addition to that, it possess riches and treasures which stands for the huge stock of wealth by the city and empire. Altogether, a trip to Byzantium is a journey to heaven on earth.