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Period: 300 to 1500
Byzantine empire
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324
Emperor Constantine l founded the Byzantine capital
Although Constantine had been tempted to build his capital on the site of Ancient Rome, he decided instead to locate it at the old site of Byzantium, claiming it to be the new Rome. -
527
General Belisiarius military campaigns
General Belisarius was appointed to a command at roughly the age of 25. Belisarius was chosen to begin the reconquest of the Western Roman territories occupied by Germanic peoples. His military campaign lasted 35 years until he died. -
532
Nika revolt
This was the most violent riot in Byzantine history. It lasted for 5 days, and nearly half the city was burned down from the riots, and over 30,000 people were killed. -
537
Hagia Sophia completed
Hagia Sophia built in Constantinople is the most important Byzantine structure, and one of the worlds greatest monuments. It is a symbol of harmony, peace and tolerance. -
630
Early Islamic military campaigns into Byzantine territory
Emergence of Arabs in the 630s resulted in the loss of Byzantines southern provinces. Over the next fifty years the Arabs would repeatedly launch raids in Byzantine Asia Minor. -
986
emperor basil ll military conquests of Bulgaria
From 986 until 1014 there was warfare between Byzantium and Bulgaria. He slowly worked his way to the capital (Ochrida). This gave him a crushing victory and that’s how he got his byname “slayer of the bulgars” -
1054
Great Schism
The great chism divided Chalcedonian Christianity into what are now know as the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Faiths. -
1095
Emperor Alexis l contacts Pope Urban ll
The Byzantine empire was considerably overstretched. This made it difficult to defend its borders from attacks. Emperor Alexis contacted Pope Urban asking for assistance with this problem. -
1204
Fourth crusade
The fourth crusade was a Latin armed expedition ordered by Pope Innocent lll. The goal of this expedition was to recapture the Muslim controlled city of Jerusalem. -
1453
Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks
The Byzantine Empire came to an end when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in May 1453. It is often referred to as the event that marked the end of the European Middle Ages.
