Byzantine Empire of Middle Ages

The Eastern Roman Empire, which split into two different empires, was renamed the Byzantine Empire. After the Western Roman Empire, which included Rome, fell in 476 CE, the Byzantine Empire survived for a further 1000 years.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire dominated the majority of Eastern and Southern Europe. At the time, Constantinople, its capital, was the biggest and richest city in all of Europe.

Constantine

In 306 CE, Constantine I became the first emperor. He established Byzantium, a Greek city, as the Eastern Roman Empire’s capital. It was given the new name of Constantinople. For thirty years, Constantine served as emperor. The Roman Empire would flourish and grow in strength under Constantine. Additionally, Constantine accepted Christianity, which would permeate the Roman Empire for the following 1000 years.

Justinian era

During the Justinian Dynasty, the Byzantine Empire reached its height. Justinian I was crowned emperor in 527. The empire expanded during the reign of Justinian I, and both its strength and wealth peaked.

Justinian introduced numerous improvements as well. One significant change involved the legislation. He started by reviewing all of the existing Roman laws. These laws were recorded in a large number of distinct documents that date back hundreds of years. The Justinian Code, also known as the Corpus of Civil Law, is the result of his rewriting of the laws.

Justinian supported the performing, visual, and literary arts. Additionally, he provided funding for numerous public construction initiatives, such as churches, roads, aqueducts, and bridges. The Hagia Sophia, a stunning and enormous church constructed in Constantinople, was possibly his most well-known undertaking.

Abandoning the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church broke apart in 1054 CE. The Eastern Orthodox Church no longer acknowledged the Catholic Church in Rome after Constantinople assumed leadership of the organisation.

Wars against the Muslims

The Byzantium Empire battled the Muslims for dominance of the eastern Mediterranean for the majority of the Middle Ages. This included requesting assistance from the Pope and the Holy Roman Empire during the first Crusade to retake the Holy Land. For hundreds of years, they fought the Arabs, Muslims, and Seljuk Turks. The Byzantine Empire finally came to an end in 1453 when Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.

Facts worth knowing about the Byzantine Empire

Nearly all Byzantine art is devoted to religion.

Up until the year 700 CE, the Byzantine Empire’s official language was Latin; however, Emperor Heraclius converted it to Greek.

During the Fourth Crusade, the Crusaders invaded and pillaged Constantinople.

To deter opponents from attacking, the emperor frequently gave them wealth or a tribute.

Emperor Justinian gave women the ability to possess land, which was very beneficial to widows who had lost their spouses.

Roman control significantly impacted Europe for approximately 2000 years, from the early Roman Republic to the fall of the Byzantine Empire.

Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, is today’s name for the ancient metropolis of Constantinople.