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Emperor Conatantine named the Byzantine Capital Constantinople, after himself. It was in place of a pre-existing city, Byzantium, which was colonized by Greeks during their expansion. Constantinope was the largest and wealthiest city of it's time period.
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Justinian wanted to revive the greatness of the empire and take back the western half of the Roman Empire. He is sometimes referred as the "last Roman". Justinian was very ambitious in recovering territory. His main goal as Emperor was to restore the Byzantine Empire.
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General Belisarius aided in conquering territory along the Mediterranean Sea. He conquered the Vandals and Ostrogoths. The war with the Ostrogoths was between 535-554. General Belisarius defeated the Kutrigurs during his final campaign.
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The Hagia Sophia, at this time, was an Eastern Orthodox cathedral. It features marble and mosaic pillars. The dome was considered innovative in how the architects planned it to be. The original dome was destroyed in an earthquake.
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The Muslims were experiencing an increase in population and diffusion of the people. The Arabs seiged Constantinople twice. Naval and land forces were used by both sides of the war. Both parties experienced after-effects.
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Emperor Basil II wanted to regain terrieory losy many years ago. Bulgarians have previously invaded the Byzantine Empire. Emperor Basil II, at the time, was occupied in dealing with internal rebellions. Eventually he conquered Bulgaria. He blinded many of his 15,000 prisoners.
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The Great Schism was between the Eastern Orthodox church and the Roman Catholic church. Arguments were about the Holy Sprit and which pope had complete jurisdiction. Michael Cerularius wanted to close all Latin churches in Constantinople relating to the Pentarchy. The papal legate came to Constantinople to prevent Cerularius from becoming the Ecumencial Patriarch.
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The first Crusade had the intention of taking back the Holy Land in France and Germany. The land was taken by the Muslums. Pope Urban ii started it in response to Emperor Alexios ii's appeal. They wanted to take back Jeruselum and free the Eastern Christians from the Muslums.
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The intention of the fourth Crusade was to take back Jeruselum. The Venetians caused havoc on Constantinople. They first captured Blachernae, part of the city. The Venetians tried to defend themselves but ended up burning most of the city.
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The fall of Constantinople caused the beginning of the Middle Ages. The Turkish Sultans wanted to capture the city and destroy the Greek Empire. Constantine Paleologus was the final Emperor of Constantinople. Eventually, the city was adandoned.
