The Byzantine Empire

Diocletian

Roman emperor who split the Roman Empire into two halves in 285 CE, establishing the Western Roman Empire based out of Rome and the Eastern Roman Empire based out of Byzantium.

Constantine

Emperor who briefly united both halves of Rome, renovated Byzantium, renamed it Constantinople after himself, and ruled from the new capital.

Fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 CE)

The collapse of Western Rome in 476 after being overrun by Germanic tribes, leaving the Eastern Roman Empire (the Byzantines) to continue.

Constantinople

Capital of the Byzantine Empire, strategically located on a natural harbor along the Bosporus strait to control trade, religion, knowledge, and defense.

Bosporus Strait

Strategic body of water connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea, controlled directly by Constantinople.

Byzantine Society

An empire based on Rome with Roman laws, a Senate, and a Caesar, but distinguished by speaking Greek instead of Latin, wearing tunics instead of togas, practicing Christianity entirely, and emphasizing classical Greek education.

Byzantine Tunic

The everyday garment worn by Byzantine citizens, which replaced the traditional Roman toga.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor who ruled from 527 to 565 CE, bringing the empire to the height of its power by temporarily reconquering Italy, Northwest Africa, and parts of Spain.

Justinian Code

A unified, standardized legal system consisting of 5,000 useful laws compiled from 400 years of Roman laws by a panel of legal experts, serving as the empire's legal basis for the next 900 years.

Hagia Sophia

The most famous church built in Constantinople during Justinian's major city renovation and rebuilding campaign.

Theodora

Justinian's strong-willed wife and closest advisor who met with foreign ambassadors, wrote political messages, passed laws, and advised him during state affairs.

Nika Rebellion

A major uprising in Constantinople during which Empress Theodora convinced Justinian to