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330
Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital
Constantine founded the city of Constantinople on the existing site of the ancient Greek city Byzantium and made it the new capital of the Byzantine Empire. Christianity then became the dominant religion under the rule of Emperor Constantine. -
Period: 330 to Jan 1, 1453
Byzantine Empire
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527
Justinian Becomes Emperor of the Byzantines
Known as the "last Roman" because of his partial restoration of the terrioties of the western Roman empire during his rule. He reorganized and revised laws resulting in Justinian's Code and also unified the empire. The Byzantine Empire reached its peak under Justinian's Rule. -
537
Hagia Sophia Completed
After being burned down twice, Emperor Justinian ordered to have the Hagia Sophia constructed once more. Meaning "Holy Wisdom", the immense arching dome shaped building served as a cathedral of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, a Roman Christian cathedral, and an Islamic mosque. -
545
General Belisarius Military Campaigns
He was the leading general under the rule of Emperor Justinian and wanted to help him restore as much of the Western Roman Empire as he could. He won many significant battles such as against the Persians and Ostrogoths and surpressed the Nike Revolt . -
Jan 1, 700
Islamic Conquests Parts of the Byzantine Empire
Around 610 AD a man named Muhammad was spoken to by an angel telling him to be the messenger of God, from then on he spent his life spreading the religion of Islam. After Muhammad died in 632 Islam continued to spread rapidly, especially under the reign of the first 4 caliphs, or successors to Muhammad. The Arabs conquered great portions of the Byzantine Empire taking Arab provinces of Syria and Palestine and capturing the wekend Palestine empire and Byzantine Egypt. -
Jan 1, 1025
Emperor Basil II Military Conquests up to the Year 1025
Basil II extended imperial rule in the Balkans, Mesopotamia, Georgia, and Armenia and increased his domestic authority ny attacking the powerful landed interests of the military aristocracy and of the church. He was known to be one of the most outstanding Byzantine emperors. -
Jan 1, 1054
Great Schism
Many controversies, like the use of icons and disputes over authority, caused a split between eastern and western Chritianity. The Byzantine Empire became known as the Eastern, or Greek,Orthodox Church and the Western branch became known as the Roman Catholic Church. The pope and patriarch excommunicated eachother. -
Jan 1, 1095
Emperor Alexius I and Pope Urban II
After Seljuk Turks had overrun most Byzantine lands in Asia Minor and extended their power over the Holy Land, where Christains believed Jesus had once lived and preached, emperor Alexius I urgently asked Pope Urban II for Christan knights to help him fight the Muslim Turks. By 1096 thousands of knights were on their way to the Holy Land. The Crusades continued on and on for 200 years between the Christians and the Muslims. -
Jan 1, 1204
Fourth Crusade (attack on Constantinople)
During the Fourth Crusade the crusaders were diverted from fighting Muslims into fighting other Christians. They helped merchants from the northern Italian city of Venice defeat their Byzantine trade rivals in 1204, then captured and looted Constantinople. The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Jerusalem by invading Egypt. -
Jan 1, 1453
End of the Byzantines
Ottoman forces surrounded the city of Constantinople and attacked the walls with cannons. The attack lasted two months when finally the Turks, led by ruler Mehmet II, stormed Constantinople's broken walls. The city was renamed Istanbul, became the capital of the Ottoman Empire, and soon emerged as a great center of Muslim culture.
