Byzantine Empire

  • 753 BCE

    The Roman Empire Begins

    Spans 3 continents (Europe, Africa, Asia) and speaks Greek and Latin. Citizens had public health programs and Public Welfare programs.
  • 200

    Problems in paradise

    Corrupt leaders and frequent changes in rulers caused conflicts along with the invading semi-nomadic tribes from Northern Europe.
  • 284

    Diocletian comes to power

    He goes on to split the empire into the Eastern half (ruled out of Byzantium) and the Western half (ruled out of rome)
  • 305

    Diocletian retires

  • 415

    Hagia Sophia is built

    Focusing on the huge dome in the ceiling created using the Pendentive technique.
  • 527

    Justinian rises to power

    Justinian is in power from 527-565. He expands the empire into North Africa and modern day Spain and recaptures modern day Italy. he revised the old laws as they were contradictory and confusing.
  • 532

    Nika Revolts

    The Nika revolts were caused by a hatred of the government and the separation of the people into the green and blue groups. They destroyed and rampaged through the city for 5 nights and burned down the Hagia Sophia. This led to Justinian trapping 30,000 people in the hippodrome and slaughtering them.
  • 537

    Hagia Sophia is rebuilt

    To show power over the people after the revolts, Justinian rebuilt the Hagia Sophia in just under 6 years. They finished in 537
  • Oct 25, 1453

    Constantinople is conquered

    Constantinople is conquered by the Ottoman empire after months of effort to knock down the city wall. The Hagia Sophia is turned into a mosque and dedicated to Allah.
  • Hagia Sophia is a museum

    The Hagia Sophia is turned into a museum in 1935 by the first president of Turkey. To this day Muslim and Christians are fighting to get the building rededicated to their respective religious purposes.