Byzantine Empire in 565 AD

under Emperor Justinian

Byzantine
Strongly Christian people - founded many monasteries
and churches
Converted the Russians and Eastern Europeans to
Christianity - this form of Christianity survives today as the
Eastern Orthodox Church

BULGARIA
ROME

GREECE
SPAIN
CONSTANTINOPLE

CORDOBA

ASIA MINOR
ATHENS
ANTIOCH

CARTHAGE
JERUSALEM

SYRIA
DAMASCUS

AFRICA
ALEXANDRIA

PRE-HISTORIC
NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC

RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO

history of architecture

EGYPT

INFLUENCES
HISTORY
Fierce barbaric tribes such as the Goths and Vandals
attacked from outside the empire
In 285 293 AD, the empire had split into two an
Eastern and Western empire
Constantine, a converted Christian, changed the capital
of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople in 330 AD
The western empire based in Rome finally collapsed in
476 AD
Eastern empire lasted another thousand years and was
known as the Byzantine empire
Constantinople stood on the site of an old Greek town
called Byzantium (present-day Istanbul)
Known as the "new Rome", most commanding position
and most valuable part of eastern Roman empire
Bulwark of Christianity during the Middle Ages

Under Emperor Justinian, regained control of lost lands

of the Western Roman Empire, such as Northwest Africa,
Italy and Spain
Attacks from Slav Barbarians and Bulgars from the
northwest were constantly being repelled
Persians, Arabs and Muslims from east
Normans and Venetians
Ottoman Turks captured the city in 1453 and killed
Constantine XI the last emperor
GEOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY
Where Asia and Europe meet, separated by a narrow
strip of water
Art and architecture executed by original Greek
craftsmen
Influence reached Greece, Serbia, Russia, Asia Minor,
North Africa, further west
Also Ravenna, Perigeux and Venice, through trade

Byzantine
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

PRE-HISTORIC

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE

18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO

history of architecture

DESCRIPTION
First buildings constructed were churches
Dumped Early Christian style for new domical Byzantine
style
Byzantine is still official style for Orthodox church

DOMES
The dome was the prevailing motif of Byzantine architecture
Practice of using domes contrasts with Early Christian timber truss
system

3 types of dome:
1. Simple - Pendentives and domes are of same sphere
2. Compound . Dome of separate sphere, rises independently over
sphere of pendentives or dome raised on high drum
3. Special designs: melon, serrated, onion or bulbous shape
distinction:
Basilican plan - Early Christian
Domed, centralized plan - Byzantine
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM
Fusion of domical construction with classical columnar
style
Domes of various types placed over square
compartments using pendentives
Semi-circular arches rest directly on columns, with
capitals able to support springing of arches

Byzantine
DOMES
3 types of dome:

3. Special designs: melon, serrated, onion or bulbous shape

PRE-HISTORIC

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE

18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO

history of architecture

1. Simple - Pendentives and domes are of same sphere

2. Compound . Dome of separate sphere, rises independently over

sphere of pendentives or dome raised on high drum

Melon-shaped
Bulbous,dome-like roof ending in a
sharp point,

Byzantine
EXAMPLES
CHURCHES
Centralized type of plan
Dome over nave, sometimes supported by semi-domes
Entrance at west

S. Mark, Venice
On the site of original Basilican church
An exterior quality all its own: blending of features from
many foreign lands
Sits behind the Piazza of San Marco, vast marble-paved
open space serves as atrium to church

history of architecture

Glittering, resplendent faade

Exterior enriched by fine entrance portals, mosaic and
marble decorations

PRE-HISTORIC
NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN

EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE

18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC

S. Sophia, Constantinople
Hagia Sophia "divine or holy wisdom"
Built by Justinian, designed by Anthemius of Tralles and
Isidorus of Miletus
Rose on the site of 2 successive Basilican churches of
the same name

INDIAN

CHINESE & JAPANESE

FILIPINO

Most important church in Constantinople

Perfection of Byzantine style
Later converted into a mosque