Byzantine Empire: History, Periods, and Artistic Legacy
Byzantine Empire: Historical and Geographic Framework
From the late Roman Empire, the unity of the Mediterranean, once held together by Rome, began to crumble. The first step in this process was the division of the Empire into two parts upon the death of Theodosius: the Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital in Constantinople, and the Western Roman Empire, with its capital in Rome.
These two empires were vastly different in character. While the Western Roman Empire was based primarily on an agricultural economy, the East had a more commercial, industrial, and cosmopolitan character.
The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 AD, breaking up into a series of independent kingdoms. In contrast, the Eastern Roman Empire continued to exist until the 15th century, known as Byzantium (the Greek name for Constantinople).
Byzantine Periods and Chronology
- First Golden Age (6th and 7th centuries): The most important period within this age is that of Justinian (first half of the 6th century), who was a Roman emperor in the traditional sense. He attempted to rebuild the entire Roman Empire, but his conquests in the West were short-lived due to the presence of Islam in the 7th century. Justinian created legislation based on Roman law. His reign was a parenthesis in the history of Byzantium, which was much more rooted in the Greek and Eastern world than the Roman.
- Iconoclastic Crisis (8th and 9th centuries): Emperor Leo III prohibited the use of images in churches, and shortly thereafter imposed the death penalty for those who worshipped them. Consequently, there was a weakening of artistic production.
- Second Golden Age (10th to 12th centuries): This is the creative stage that defined Byzantine aesthetics. The period ended with the capture of Constantinople in 1204 by the Crusaders, who were originally meant to go to the Holy Land.
- 13th Century: The Crusader princes divided a part of the Byzantine Empire, creating feudal states. Simultaneously, Greek states were formed, led by members of former Byzantine families.
- Third Golden Age (14th and 15th centuries): This period saw a renaissance under the Palaeologus dynasty. Art was reborn, especially outside of Constantinople. After the fall of Constantinople to the Turks, Byzantine forms survived in Russia.
Byzantine Art: Key Characteristics
The fundamentals of Byzantine art are explained by historical and geographical factors. The area had belonged to the Roman Empire, which meant that Byzantine art was an heir to Roman art. Moreover, the strategic location of Byzantium made it a commercial hub between East and West, and subsequently, it became immersed in a very important intellectual and artistic environment.
- An Art of Synthesis: Byzantine art was a mixture of Roman, Greek, and Oriental traditions, all influenced by a strong Christian ideology. From the Romans came architectural elements and constructive forms; from the Hellenistic period came the creation of environments and spaces; and from the Orient came colorful decorations based on brilliant mosaics, paintings in interiors, icons, and miniatures.
- Religious Art: Byzantine art was heavily influenced by the Church, which controlled and limited freedom of expression. This is mainly manifested in the plastic arts. Artists had to follow theological rules and given prototypes. It is a static art, highly conservative, where there is no personal style, hence the anonymity of the artists.
- Art in Service of Power: Byzantine art served both political and religious power, displaying the prestige of the Emperor, who also became the head of the Church.