For almost 1,000 years the Roman Empire ruled over most of the known world. After the empire was divided into two parts in AD 395 the eastern half became known as the Byzantine Empire. The capital of the Byzantine Empire was Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), which was founded in 330 by the Emperor Constantine. The Byzantine Empire lasted for more than 1,000 years, until it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. - Map of the Byzantine Empire
CultureConstantinople was the center of a brilliant civilization. For centuries, the Byzantines were the most powerful and influential people in Europe and the Middle East. They made many contributions to the world, especially in the areas of art and religion. Byzantine artists created a distinctive style of mosaic work, painting, and domed architecture that influenced the cultures of Greece, Italy, Spain, and Russia. The Byzantine state religion—Eastern Orthodox Christianity—became the major religion in the Balkan and Russian kingdoms as well as in Greece. Art and religion were often tied together, as in the distinctive Church of St. Sophia and the Church of the Holy Apostles. HistoryFrom the earliest days of the empire the Byzantines faced conflict both at home and abroad. Several groups, including the Huns and Goths, invaded both parts of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. In 410 Gothic tribes captured Rome. They were followed by other Germanic warriors who took control of the Western Empire. The Byzantine Empire fought other invaders, including the Persian Empire and Slavic peoples from the Balkans. Rule of JustinianOne of the greatest rulers of the empire was Justinian I, who ruled from 527 to 565. In a series of wars he regained much of the territory that had been lost. Justinian's greatest reform was a collection of laws. The laws that he made influenced lawmakers throughout Europe for many centuries. Rise of IslamAlthough Justinian accomplished much, the empire continued to face threats from outside forces for many years. In the 7th century the prophet Muhammad began to preach to the Arabs a religion that became known as Islam. The Arabs, inspired by the new religion, set out on a campaign of conquest. Between 673 and 677 they tried to capture Constantinople, but the city held. The Arabs attacked again in 717, but the emperor Leo III turned them away. This victory ended for a while the threat of the Arabs to the empire. Split between Eastern and Western ChristianityDuring this period the Byzantine Empire developed its own cultural and political patterns. Latin disappeared, and Greek language and culture took over. One of the biggest changes was that Eastern Christianity grew apart from Western Christianity. A formal break took place in 1054 after the leader of the Eastern church quarreled with the pope in Rome. From that time on the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches have been separate. End of the empireOver the next several hundred years the empire gradually lost strength as it fought many invading groups. Finally, during the 14th century, the Turkish Ottomans conquered Asia Minor and the Balkans. Constantinople was surrounded. In April 1453 Muhammad II marched on Constantinople with a huge army, and conquered the city one month later. Constantine XI (1449–53), the last emperor, died defending the city. When Muhammad II entered, he went to the St. Sophia church and gave thanks to God. The Byzantine Empire had ended. |