History of the Byzantines

Emperor Constantine l Founded the Byzantine Capital

330

The "New Rome", roads had fanned out to the Balkanso the Middle east, and to North Africa. Constatine embarked on an ambitious building program to improve his new capital.

Justinian Becomes Emperor of the Byzantines

527

Justinian was determined to revive ancient Rome by recovering lands that been overun by invaders. Byzantine armies had conquered North Africa, Italy, and the southern Iberian peninsula. His defense weakend from the fighting in the east.

General Belisarius Military Campaigns

535

Belisarius want and made peace with the persians and win back the African provinces to the empire. Belisariius first campaign was agaisnt the Ostrogoths in Italy.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

It was a complex system of vaults and semi domes. it was interpereted by commentators as the dome of heaven itself. Its weight was carried on 4 arch walls. This structurul system was prone to problems: the first dome collasped in 558 and was rebuilt in 562 to greater height. It was colored marble and decorated in gold.

Islamic Conquests Parts of the Byzantine Territory

Jan 1, 600

Arab armies gained control of the Mediterranean world. Constantinople withstood their attack, and Byzantines held on their heartland in the Balkans and Asia Minor.

Emperor Basil ll military conquests up to the year 1025

Jan 1, 1025

Emperor Basil was campaigning against Bulgaria and they would be his prime target of his mature military efforts. he planned an expedition to reconquer Sicily and expand Byzantine authority in Italy.

Great Schism

Jan 1, 1054

Other controversies provoked a schism, or split, between eastern and western Christianity. The Byzantine church became known as the Easern. or Greek, Orthodox Church.

Emperor Alexios l and Pope Urban ll

Nov 27, 1095

Alexuis came from an old military landed ffamily but since the Islamic Invasion, powerful families have been competing for control. Alexius banned the latin church of Constantinople.The churches and shrines had fallen into despair. He decided to re-establish the churches. Emperor Alexius asked help from Pope Urban to fight against the Turks, The pope convinced the council of nobles from across Europe to answer Alexius call and the First Cursade launched.

Fourth Crusade (attack on Constantinople)

Jan 1, 1204

Pope innocent lll first called the Crusade. The anti-western noble Murtzuphlus murdered Emperor Alexius lV on February 8,1204. Attacks on the Crusader camp followed. The attempt to destroy the Venetian using fire ships almost succeeded. A third alternative was to assault Constantinople itself. While attacking the Chirstian city seemed contrary to their vows. They could construst a case that the Greeks were murderes and oath-breakers.

End of Byzantines

May 29, 1453

On May 29,1453, after an ottoman army storm constantinople, Mehmed entered the Hagia Sophia, that would become the city's leading mosque. Emperor Constantine Xl died in battle that day, and the decline and fall of the Byzantine Empire was done.