Byzantine+Empire

) Byzantine Empire 330 – 1453 AD

Gavin Mast and Ian Mahoney Mentor: Liliana The Byzantine Empire was an empire that started in 330 AD, when Emperor Constantine I moved the capital of the empire to Constantinople, and fell in 1453, when the capital fell to the Ottoman Turks. ([|Stathakopoulos] ) The Byzantine Empire (also known as Byzantium or the Eastern Roman Empire) was the remnant of the Roman Empire, whose Western half fell to both infighting and barbarian tribes. (Sherrard, 184) The Byzantine Empire survived however, and continued many of the traditions of the Roman Empire. Because of this, the Byzantine Empire was far more advanced when compared to other medieval cultures. But unlike the Roman Empire, The Byzantine Empire was a Christian empire and the people spoke Greek, not Roman. ([|Grolier]) The Byzantine Empire was a shining, cultural, economic and religious light in a time of Darkness.

The empire was ruled by an Emperor, who held absolute control over the affairs of the government, and was considered a messenger for God. ([|Grolier]) Because of this, the emperors of the empire were figures of key importance, and influenced both directly and indirectly what happened in the empire. Religion also played an important role in the Byzantine empire, whether in daily life or in government affairs. The empire was a powerful force behind the creation and growth of the Eastern Orthodox Church, as it was adopted as its official religion. (Treadgold, 2-4) The Byzantine Empire's legacy is much larger then many would think. Their influence is most notable in the Balkans and areas surrounding that, including parts of Russia. The Byzantine Empire spread the Cyrillic alphabet and the Eastern Orthodox Church through these areas, where both are still in use today. (Sherrard, 11-14)

Click on the links below to learn more about the rise and fall of the Byzantine Empire The Rise of the Byzantine Empire: The Early Years The Decline of the Byzantine Empire: The Later Years

Time-line (Original Work)  Oooo  Oooo ||  Oooo  Oooo ||  Oooo ||  <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo || <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo || <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo || <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo || <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo || <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo || <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo || <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo || <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooo || Citations 1. Stathakopoulos, Dionysios. "The Elusive Eastern Empire." __History Today__ 58 (2008): 38. __EBSCO Host__. EBSCO. 25 Apr. 2009 <[]>. 2. Jenkins, Romilly J.H. __Encyclopedia Americana__. __Grolier Online__. 2009. 25 Apr. 2009 <[]>. 3. Sherrard, Philip. Great Ages of Man: Byzantium. Time-Life Books, 1966. 4. Treadgold, Warren. A Concise History of Byzantium. Palgrave, 2001.
 * < 330 AD ||< Constantinople becomes capital
 * < 476 ||< Fall of the Western Roman Empire
 * < 527 ||< Justinian I becomes emperor
 * < 565 ||< Justinian I dies, and Justin II becomes emperor
 * < 610 ||< Heraclius becomes emperor
 * < 867 ||< Basil I becomes emperor, beginning of the Macedonian dynasty
 * < 976 ||< Basil II becomes emperor
 * < 1017 ||< Basil II conquers the Bulgars ||
 * < 1025 ||< Basil II dies and ends the Macedonian dynasty; the beginning of the fall of the empire
 * < 1071 ||< Battle of Manzikert
 * < 1180 ||< Death of emperor Manuel I Komnenos ||
 * < 1185 ||< End of the Komneni dynasty ||
 * < 1203 ||< The Fourth Crusade begins ||
 * < 1204 ||< Constantinople is sacked by crusaders
 * < 1261 ||< Constantinople is recaptured by the empire
 * < 1300 ||< Ottoman Turks begin their conquests
 * < 1453 ||< Constantinople falls to the Ottomans ||