Summary of AP Art History - Byzantine Art and Architecture

00:00:00 - 00:30:00

The video discusses the Byzantine Empire, which was a great power for over a millennium. Art during this period was influenced by classical Greece and Rome. However, the empire was eventually conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD, leading to the loss of many of its artistic traditions.

• 00:00:00 The Byzantine Empire was a great power for over a millennium, spanning from the 4th century AD to the 1450s AD. The empire was founded by Constantine the Great in 324 AD and grew from a small area in the Balkans to encompass much of Western Europe. Art during this period was influenced by classical Greece and Rome. However, the empire was eventually conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD, leading to the loss of many of its artistic traditions.
• 00:05:00 The Byzantine Empire was a period of time in which art and architecture flourished. Iconoclasm was a religious controversy in which religious officials called for the destruction of existing religious icons, but eventually the Byzantines got over the phase and revived iconography. The empire was weakened by the Crusades and eventually fell under the power of the Ottoman Empire. Haya Sophia, a religious building in Istanbul, is still in use and is one of the most famous religious structures in the world. Its massive dome is striking and its gold mosaics are still visible.
• 00:10:00 The highest Sophia in Constantinople, originally built as a church in the early Byzantine Empire, underwent a number of modifications and transformations throughout its history, including being converted into a mosque in the 1450s. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with intricate calligraphy and religious icons, and is one of the Tenements of Islam. Today, it is one of the most stunning examples of Byzantine art and architecture in the world.
• 00:15:00 This video discusses the Byzantine architecture and art of Ravenna, Italy, which was under the control of the Ostrogoths in the 6th century. Some aspects of the building honor Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora, and indicate the power and influence that they had even outside of the strict borders of their empire.
• 00:20:00 The video discusses the Byzantine art of architecture, including the octagonal church San Sabina in Rome. It covers the mosaics, which are important for historical and religious reasons. The video also discusses the shallow perspective and standardized faces in Byzantine art.
• 00:25:00 The "Vienna Genesis" is an illuminated manuscript that was created in the Byzantine period. It features images of Theodora, the wife of Emperor Justinian, and similarities to Justinian's art style. It also has continuous narrative and uses classical conventions blended with byzantine conventions.
• 00:30:00 The video discusses Byzantine art and architecture, including examples of icons and paintings. One interesting feature of Byzantine art is that many of the figures look like adults, instead of babies or children as is typically seen in earlier art.