Sarah's+Byzantine+and+Muslim+civilization



Temple Pendant and Stick- Byzantine (Constantinople)- late 11th first half of the 12th century  ﻿The big round thing is the gold pendant which is hollow and open at the top. The hinged loop can be swung open so that the pendant could be suspended from a cap, head dress, band, or even the hair.  The long looking stick is the cavity and it was probably suppose to hold a piece of cloth soaked in aromatic oil, which would surround the wearer ﻿ ﻿with perfume. The tapered stick could have been used to insert the cloth into the hollow. This type of personal ornament may have been invented in Constantinople. The pendant may well be the oldest surviving example. sources: []  Civilization of the Muslims and the Byzantines  Two groups the Christian Byzantines and the Muslim Arabs and Turks developed a powerful civilization. These two Groups sometimes shared control and sometimes fought over the region. The Byzantine civilization blended with the Greek, Roman, and Christian influences.  Current Events  At the council of Clermont in 1095 Pope Urban II called upon Christians in Europe to respond to an urgent plea for help from Byzantine Christians in the East. Muslims were threatening to conquer this remnant of the Roman Empire for Allah. The threats were real and most of the middle East including the Holy Land where Christ had walked had already been vanquished, this began the era of the Crusades. Committed to saving Christianity the crusaders left family and jobs to take up the cause. There were six Crusades between 1095 and 1270, but the Crusading spirit would continue on for centuries until Islam was no longer a menace to Europe. sources: []  