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The city od Byzantium was originally a Greek city state which was re-founded by the Roman Empire Constantine I and named Constantinople, which was the transfer from the imperial capital Rome. During the formation of Constantinople, the Assassins Order arrived maintaining a constant eye on their Templar enemies because the new city was a place for high activity for the Templar Order. NOTE: ALL DATES ARE IN A.D. AND AREN"T EXACT EXCEPT FOR THE YEARS
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The Byzantine Empire was namely the Eastern Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire formed when Constantine replaced the tetrachy with his own dynastic principle of hereditary succession. Constantine started the Byzantine Empire, when he moved the seat of the Empire towards south. In 330 A.D. Constantine founded the second "Rome" which was called Constantinople thus starting off the great Byzantine Empire.
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The Western Roman Empire falls due to large size of it's territories which were hard to control. It also fals due to greed, injustice among people, and the invasion of nomadic barbarians such as the Huns and the Visigoths. The Eastern Roman Empire is now called the Byzantine Empire.
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Justinian the Great's reign begins as one of the most important figures in the Byzantine Empire history. His successful conquests brought the Byzantine Empire to it's peak. His generals including Belsarius conqueres the Vandal and the Ostrogoth Kingdoms.
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The great Hagia Sophia is built in 537 AD under the order of Justinian the Great. It served as an Eastern Orthodox Christian cathedral and was a seat for the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
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The Germanic Lombards invade Italy eventually taking over Norther Italy from the Byzantines
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Heraclius the Younger also called Heraclius overthrew the tyrant Emperor Phocas. Heraclius was the son of the Armenian Exarch of Africa who was one of the key generals in Emperor Maurice's army in the war against Persia. While his younger brother invaded Egypt from inland, he went on to Constantinople and entered the city with no resistance. Heraclius had the support of some prominent aristocrats and the Byzantine Army. He killed the tyrant Phocas and the body of Phocas was mutilated and burned.
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During the invasion on the Ostrogoths, water supply was stopped by the Ostrogoths. Belsarius ordered his men to put mill gear in riverbooats. This idea eventuall reached Western Europe during the Anglo-Saxon and the Francian times.
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The Roman Empire divides into two-the Western Roman Empire and teh Eastern Roman Empire. Civil wars also erupted in placed of the Empire and respect also fell for the Roman Laws. Emperor Docletian decided to split the empire in two because it's massive territories were hard to control. However more defenses needed to be built which needed money. Taxes were raised and an inflation in the economy bgean. Emperor Docletian ruled in the East while Emperor Maximian ruled in the West.
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Justinian the Great coddifies the Roman laws into one law. This codified Roman law was called Corpus Juris Civilis or the Code of Justinian. There were good and bad parts of this law.
Good:
It united the different laws into one big legislation.
Bad:
However it also increased the power of the Roman Emperor. -
Theodosius II adds more to the defense of the city Constantinople which remained impervioud to attacks until gunpowder was invented.
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Anastasius I a civil officer becomes Emperor and introduces reformed tax.
