The development of modern society was greatly influenced by the cultural heritage of the Roman Empire, Byzantium, the Kingdom of Egypt and many other equally great civilizations. A huge number of cultural monuments have survived to this day, presenting to society the traditions, customs and worldview of the ancient people.
The art of Byzantium is the clearest example of this. After the division of the great Roman Empire, the kings of Constantinople ascended the throne, leaving behind a gigantic amount of cultural treasures after their eleventh century reign. Complex and difficult stages of historical development not only did not aggravate the growth and improvement of the art of civilization, but also gave the world unforgettable artifacts, a small part of which is available for visual acquaintance even now.
The art of Byzantium began its development from the slave system. The smooth transition from antiquity to the Middle Ages also left its indelible imprint on the improvement of culture. This period is characterized by magnificent monuments of architecture and art. It was at that time that the architects of the state tried to preserve the huge heritage that the people inherited from the greatRoman Empire.
A huge role in the art of Byzantium had the adoption of Christianity by the people. This brought the state closer to such dissimilar territories as Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Serbia, etc. This period is characterized by the widespread installation of domed ceilings during the construction of temples. The medieval period saw the development of such areas as the creation of mosaics, frescoes and book miniatures. It is worth noting that it is at this stage that iconography plays an increasingly important role. But sculptural creations cannot boast of their rapid development. However, it was the social life and structure of the people of the state that imposed a special charm and unique beauty on the art of Byzantium. At the same time, the church fully served the benefit of society. In accordance with the medieval ideas of the people, the emperor was the vicar of the Lord. His power was supported by a powerful church apparatus.
Fine art of Byzantium has also undergone some changes. The artists of the first centuries of our era displayed in their creations vivid images that were permeated with allegorical features. Plasticity and distraction from the Christian beginning - these are the main features of the paintings of that time. They were replaced by creativity, the main feature of which was the divine principle. The expression of spiritual greatness has become an integral part of every piece of art.
The Church was the only major critic. The main directions in which the development and formation ofart, were iconography, frescoes, mosaics and book miniatures. The background of shimmering golden color, sparkling edges of stones and sm alt, bright ornaments - these are the main features of almost any work of the creators of that era, for which Byzantium became famous all over the world. The art of this state has gone through several stages of its development. The first of these was the early Christian stage (from the 1st to the 3rd century AD). It is followed by the so-called early Byzantine, which affected the sixth and seventh centuries. This period is famous for the development of temple architecture and Ravenna mosaics. It is followed for a century and a half by the iconoclastic stage, which was replaced by the Macedonian Renaissance, which lasted until the 11th century. The penultimate period was the era of conservatism, and the development of the great art of Byzantium ended with Hellenistic principles and anti-crisis tendencies, which was reflected in the Palaiologan Renaissance.
