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330
Byzantine Capital Founded
Emperor Constantine made the old city of Byzantium into the new capital Constantinople. This was the perfect location for a capital because it was at a crossroads of land and sea routes. Trade is were most of the city's wealth came from. -
Period: 330 to Jan 1, 1453
Byzantine Empire
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527
Justinian Becomes Emperor of the Byzantines
Under Justinian's rule the Byzantine empire reached it's peak. He rebuilt the city of Constantinople after it was destroyed by roits and a devestating fire. Justinian also created Justinian's Code which was a collection of all the laws of ancient Rome. -
537
The Hagia Sophia is Completed
The Hagia Sophia was one of the many buildings that was destroyed by the riots and fire while Justinian was in rule. The Hagia Sophia, which was a church at the time, took 5 years to rebuild. It's large arching dome, colored marble, and embroidered silk curtains made this Justinian's greatest triumph. -
545
General Belisarius Military Campaigns
Belisarius was a brilliant general who lead the Byzantine armies to reconquer North Africa, Italy, and the southern Iberian peninsula which had been taken over by invaders. He did this to help Emperor Justinian with his vision of riviving ancient Rome. -
Jan 1, 700
Islamic Conquests Take Parts of the Byzantine Territory
Starting in the 600s and 700s Arab armies slowly started taking control of the Mediterranean world. The city of Constantinople however withstood their attacks and the Byzantines were able to hold on to their place in the Balkans and Asia Minor. -
Jan 1, 1025
Emperor Basil II Military Conquests
Basil II was an aggresive and diplomatic ruler. His main goal was to extend imperial authority at home and also abroad. He kept the boarders in check and helped when crises arose. One of Basil II's greatest victories was that against the Bulgarian army in 1014. -
Jan 1, 1054
The Great Schism
This is what the spliting of eastern and western Christianity was called. The two sides were fighting about if the use of icons was okay or not. After the split the eastern branch became known as the Eastern, or Greek, Orthodox Church. The western branch now the Roman Catholic Church. The two sides treated each other as rivals and became distant with one another. -
Jan 1, 1095
Emperor Alexios I and Pope Urban II
These two men worked together to fight against the Turks. Emperor Alexios asked for the help of Pope Urban, so his job was to preach the First Crusade to the French. Pope Urban pictured to the left -
Jan 1, 1204
The Fourth Crusade
When Venetian merchants persuaded knights on the Fourth Crusade to attack the capital, Constantinople. For the next three days the crusaders burned and destroyed the city. After this the Venetian merchants took over control of the Byzantine trade which drained wealth from the empire. -
Jan 1, 1453
End of the Byzasntines
This is when Ottoman forces surrounded the city of Constantinople. They had cannons to fight with on land and they brought their ships over land to put in behind the Byzantine defenders. This fight lasted two months and in the end the Byzantine empire had falled to the Turks. Constantinople was renamed Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman empire, and became a great center of Muslim culture.
