Byzantine Empire, Rise and Fall

Founding of Constantinople

324

Construction on Constantinople began in 324 C.E. when Emperor Constantine I declared it would be the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. It was completed in 330 C.E. and became one of the wealthiest cities of the time period due to being located on many major trade routes. It would remain the capital of the Byzantine Empire until its fall in 1453. https://www.ancient.eu/Constantinople/

Construction of the Hagia Sophia

532

In the aftermath of the Nika Revolts, many buildings were destroyed, including the central church. Justinian ordered the construction of a new, grander church than the one that had stood before it. After five years, the church was finally done, and it was crowned with a massive dome at its top, a feat of architecture for the time period. Justinian named it the Hagia Sophia, after the previous church that had stood there. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hagia-Sophia

Military Campaigns of Belisarius

532

Under the rule of Justinian, General Belisarius set out to reconquer the Western Roman Empire, which had fallen decades earlier. Belisarius was a brilliant strategist and leader, defeating many larger armies by use of tactics and planning. At his peak, Belisarius had retaken northern Africa, southern Spain, and most of Italy, including Rome itself. Eventually he was recalled to defend the eastern front against Persian attacks. https://www.ancient.eu/Belisarius/

Nika Revolts

532

After a controversial order by Emperor Justinian to execute two men who had survived a botched execution attempt, two rival chariot racing teams gathered in the Hippodrome, the major chariot racing arena to protest the order. After about a week, Justinian's advisors bribed Justinian's favorite team to leave the stadium, where the other team was brutally slaughtered by mercenaries. This victory solidified Justinian's reign over his subjects. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-nika-revolt-1788557

Early Muslim Conquests

634

The Muslims in Arabia had been expanding their empire into Africa and Asia, and were getting dangerously close to the Byzantine Empire. Eventually, Muslim forces pushed into Byzantium. After a long, hard-fought war, the Byzantines beat them back, but Arabian influence remained strong from then until the Byzantine Empire fell centuries later. http://waddlez.blogspot.com/2008/05/muslim-conquest-of-byzantium.html

Emperor Basil II's Conquest of Bulgaria

970

Between the years of 970 and 1018, Emperor Basil II led numerous assaults into the Bulgarian Empire, located on the Balkan Peninsula. This territory had once been part of Byzantium, and Basil wanted it back. After a disastrous first strike, he rallied his troops at home and set out again, this time taking the country bit by bit instead of going in with a full force attack. Eventually, in one final battle, the Byzantines were victorious. https://www.ancient.eu/Basil_II/

The Great Schism

1054

Due to religious conflicts between the Pope in the West and the Byzantine Empire in the East, the Pope decided to excommunicate many of the churches in the East. These actions drove a wedge between the papacy and the Byzantine Empire, and later sparked the Crusades against the Byzantines in order to be able to recapture Muslim-controlled Israel. https://www.britannica.com/event/Schism-of-1054

Emperor Alexios Contacts Pope Urban

1095

After the Seljuk Turks took the city of Jerusalem, a popular migration destination for Christians, Emperor Alexios reached out to Pope Urban for help reclaiming the holy city. Pope Urban agrees and gives a powerful speech to his followers. This call to arms ignited the first crusade. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pope-urban-ii-orders-first-crusade

The Fourth Crusade

1203

The Fourth Crusade was a military campaign ordered by Pope Innocent III. Its purpose was to recapture the city of Jerusalem from Muslim control, but due to financial constraints the army sacked Constantinople instead. This was considered one of the final nails in the coffin for the Byzantine Empire, as it soon fell to Muslim armies a few years later. https://www.britannica.com/event/Crusades/The-Fourth-Crusade-and-the-Latin-empire-of-Constantinople

Fall of the Byzantine Empire

1453

The Byzantine Empire had been on the decline for a long time, and was on the brink of oblivion. It was then that Sultan Mehmed II struck Constantinople. The city was put under siege and fell to the superior numbers and equipment of the Turkish forces. The fall of Constantinople marked the final day of the Byzantine Empire. https://www.britannica.com/event/Fall-of-Constantinople-1453