Byzantine Timeline

By Cloverbuddie
  • Period: 300 to Dec 31, 1500

    Byzantine Time Period

  • 330

    Emperor Constantine I founded the Byzantine Capitol

    Emperor Constantine I conquered Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople after himself. He choose this city because it was located on the shores of Bosporus, which is a strait which linked the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Seas. It had roads to the Middle East, Balkans, and Northern Africa. Three sides were surrounded by water. There were also trade routes linking Europe and Asia Minor. They sold Chinese silks, Indian gems, Egyptian wheat, southwestern Asian spices, and furs from Viking lands.
  • 532

    Nika Revolts (riots)

    Some of members of chariot racing team, the blues and greens, were tried for murder. A few excaped, & Justinian ordered their capture & death. The two factions demanded pardon & set fires in the city fighting against the security forces. The factions organized another race to rally against Justinian. The crowds shouted "Nika," meaning Victory & began to attack Theodora halted Justian from fleeing and reclaimed the Great Palace. Tens of 1000s of people died during those riots.
  • 532

    General Belisarius Military Campaigns

    General Belisarius helped put down the Nika riots in 532. In 533 he was sent to Persia and defeated them in many battles thanks to unique maneuvering skills that were unfamiliar to the Persians. After that he was sent to win north African providences that Vandal conquered from the Roman empire back to the empire. He took 5,000 calvary and defeated them within months. His also fought Bulgers and Ostrogoths.
  • 537

    Hagia Sophia Completed

    The church Hagia Sophia, or Holy Wisdom, was built bewtween 532 and 537 AD. The chuch was rebuilt after the Nika revolts, when many buildings were destroyed. Justinian Wanted the grand church built to restore Roman glory. The church's large, arching dome inproved upon the Parthenon's, and other Roman domes.
  • Jan 1, 634

    Early Islamic Military Campaigns into Byzantine Territory

    Muslim armies started to overrun Christian lands from Palestine to North Africa and Spain. When Muslim armies crossed into France, they rallied Frankish warriors. The Christians won in 732, at the battle of Tours. They believed the win was a sign from God. Although Muslims did not advance further into Western Europe, they still ruled most of what is now Spain. This was a source of anxiety and anger for the Christains. They were still hostle towards Muslim even though they were no longer a treat.
  • Jan 1, 1054

    Great Schism

    In 799, Pope Leo III asked Charlemange for help against rebellious nobles in Rome. The pope later crowned Charlemange, proclaiming him Emperor of the Romans, to show his gratitude. A Christian pope crowned a Germanic king successor to the Roman emperors. He revived the ideal of a united Christian community, or Christendom. This outraged Constantinople's emperor, who wanted to be sole Roman ruler. This deepened a growing split between the eastern and western Christian worlds.
  • Jan 1, 1095

    Emperor Alexios I contacts Pope Urban II for military help in the Middle East

    Seljuk Turks migrated into the Middle East and converted to Islam. Seljuks overran most of Byzantine lands in Asia Minor and extended their power over the Holy Land. For centuries, Christians pilgramiged to the Holy Land, but the conflict between the Byzantines and the Seljuks threatened the empire's survival.
  • Jan 1, 1204

    Fourth Crusade (attack on Constantinople)

    Hostility continues to build between the Byzantines and the West, resulting in the conquest and looting of Canstantinople. The Latin regime established in Cansstantinople was shakey due to open hostility of the city's population and lack of money. Because of that, an army of about 20,000 could loot and defeat the capital of about 360,000 that was formerly untouchable.
  • May 29, 1453

    Fall of Constaninople to the Ottoman Turks (official end to Byzantine)

    Ottoman Turks have oppressed the Byzantines for many years. On May 29, 1453, Mehmad II (Turk sultan) attacked Constantinople and triumphantly entered the Hagia Sophia. Emperor Constantine XI died in battle, completing the decline and eventual fall of the Byzantine empire.

  • Emperor Basil II Military Conquests of Bulgaria

    The Bulgarian ruler centered his activities in Macedonia. Basil slowly penetrated into Bulgarian territory, campaigning all summer and winter. After holding northern and central Bulgaria, he attacked the capital adn won. After his victory, he blinded the Bulgarian army, sparing every 100 men 1 eye to lead them back to the Bulgarian leader. The Byzantines also gained the formerly Bulgarian land.