The Byzantine Empire Notes

The Byzantine Empire existed for 1,000 years in eastern Europe.
It was a rich and powerful society ruled by an emperor.
The Byzantines are known for their art, learning, rulers, and strength.
Constantinople, Byzantium, and Istanbul are the same city in modern-day Turkey with a history dating back thousands of years.

The Roman Emperor Constantine chose Byzantium as the center of the eastern part of the Roman Empire.
He renamed it Constantinople.
After Constantine's death, the Roman Empire divided into east and west.

The eastern part of the Roman Empire remained strong while the western part declined.
Constantinople's location connecting Asia to Europe gave it a major advantage in trade.
Trade made the Byzantines wealthy for a long time.

Emperor Justinian expanded the empire, conquering new territories including North Africa and parts of western Europe around 1,500 years ago.
Justinian updated the laws, creating a new legal system used for hundreds of years.
He built the Hagia Sophia, meaning Holy Wisdom, one of the largest cathedrals in the world.
After Justinian's death, the Byzantine Empire began to lose power.
Justinian quote: Justice is the constant and perpetual wish to render to everyone his due.

The Byzantine Empire was strongest in the AD 500s.
Emperor Justinian had a general, Belisarius, who won many battles.
Empress Theodora, Justinian's wife, was clever and influential.
Justinian's laws gave new rights to women and children.
These laws became the framework for later legal systems in many European countries.

Around 1,000 years ago, the Byzantine Empire was the most powerful area in Europe.
The empire had more money and influence than ever before.
The Byzantines built churches and palaces.
They supported arts and literature.
They spread Christianity through eastern Europe.

The Crusades, holy wars between Christians from Europe and Muslims from the Middle East, negatively impacted the Byzantines.
Western European Christians and Byzantines disagreed on who should rule certain areas.
During the Fourth Crusade, Christians from western Europe took over Constantinople, and the Byzantines never recovered.

Around 800 years ago, the Byzantine Empire began to decline.
The emperor had to ask for money in Europe to fight enemies.
The Byzantines became vassals of their Turkish neighbors, meaning they had to obey the Turks, pay them money, and help them fight wars.

The Byzantine Empire ended in 1453 when the Ottoman Empire captured Constantinople.
The last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI, died in the fighting.

In A.D. 565, the Byzantine Empire included Turkey, the Balkans, parts of Spain, North Africa, Egypt, and the western coasts of the Mediterranean.
The empire was at its height under Justinian.