Byzantine

The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). It survived the fragmentation and fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD and continued to exist for an additional thousand years until it fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453.

History

Foundation and Early History

The Byzantine Empire was founded in 330 AD when Emperor Constantine the Great dedicated a "new Rome" on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium. The city was named Constantinople in his honor. The empire was characterized by its Roman legal and political structures, Greek culture, and Christian religion.

Justinian Dynasty

One of the most notable emperors of the Byzantine Empire was Justinian I, who reigned from 527 to 565 AD. He is known for his ambitious project to reconquer the lost western half of the historical Roman Empire. His reign also saw the codification of Roman law in the Corpus Juris Civilis, which is still the basis of civil law in many modern states.

Iconoclasm and Religious Controversies

The Byzantine Empire was marked by significant religious controversies, including the Iconoclasm controversy, which involved the destruction of religious icons and images. This period of iconoclasm lasted from 726 to 787 and again from 814 to 842, causing significant internal strife and division within the empire.

The Macedonian Renaissance

The Macedonian dynasty, beginning with Basil I in 867, ushered in a period of cultural and economic revival known as the Macedonian Renaissance. This era saw a flourishing of Byzantine art and literature, as well as military successes that expanded the empire's borders.

Decline and Fall

The empire began to decline after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, where the Byzantine army suffered a significant defeat at the hands of the Seljuk Turks. The Fourth Crusade in 1204 further weakened the empire when Crusaders sacked Constantinople, leading to the establishment of the Latin Empire. The Byzantines eventually recaptured the city in 1261, but the empire never fully recovered.

The final blow came in 1453 when the Ottoman Turks, led by Sultan Mehmed II, captured Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.

Culture and Society

The Byzantine Empire was a melting pot of cultures, blending Roman, Greek, and Christian influences. The official language was Greek, and the empire was a center of Orthodox Christianity. Byzantine art is renowned for its mosaics and architecture, including the famous Hagia Sophia.

Legacy

The Byzantine Empire left a lasting legacy on the world, influencing the Eastern Orthodox Church, Byzantine art, and the preservation of classical Greek and Roman knowledge. Its legal system, the Corpus Juris Civilis, influenced the development of legal systems in Europe.

See also

• List of Byzantine emperors
• Byzantine art
• Byzantine architecture
• Eastern Orthodox Church

References

• Ostrogorsky, George. History of the Byzantine State. Rutgers University Press, 1969.
• Norwich, John Julius. Byzantium: The Early Centuries. Viking, 1988.

External links

• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Byzantine Empire
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Byzantium (ca. 330–1453)