History of the Byzantines

History of the Byzantines

Period: 300 to 1500

Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital

330

The origins of the great civilization known as the Byzantine Empire was created, when the Roman emperor Constantine I dedicated a “new Rome” on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium. Located on the European side of the Bosporus, the site of Byzantium was ideally located to serve as a vital trading city.

Nika revolt (riots)

532

Emperor Justinian's reforms made him unpopular with many people, and as a result there were violent riots. There were 5 days of riots, resulting in destroyed buildings and mass casualties. Afterwards, Theodora convinced them not to kill Justinian and he came up with a plan to make Constantinople greater than ever, rebuilding the church of Hagia Sophia.

General Belisarius Military campaign

533

General Belisarius was a military leader who worked for the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. He made many military campaigns during his lifetime and a countless number of victories. Before becoming a general for the Byzantine army, Belisarius was a bodyguard for Justinian, proving his loyalty and talent for leading military, which helped him earn his position as general.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

The Hagia Sophia, whose name means “holy wisdom,” is a domed monument originally built as a cathedral in Constantinople.
It has two floors centered on a giant central aisle that has a great dome ceiling, along with smaller domes, towering above.

Early Islamic military campaigns into Byzantine territory

634

Islamic conquests added to the eventual fall of the Byzantine Empire. The Arab invasions into the Byzantine East were not very damaging at first. Within a few years however, they had managed to score two major victories over the Byzantines, one at Ajnadayn in 634, and another at Pella in 635. Eventually, at the battle of the Tours the Christian soldiers won and the Muslims advanced no farther.

Emperor Basil II military conquests of Bulgaria

976

The reign of Basil II, was known to be one of the most outstanding Byzantine emperors. The military conquest was a series of conflicts between the Bulgarian empire and the Byzantine empire that then led to the reestablishment of the balkan peninsula.

Great Schism

1054

Christians throughout the region had very similar customs but over time the practices of the Christians in the east and west grew apart. One of the biggest disputes was over the symbols and holy images of the church. These disputes turned into conflicts, which led to the Great Schism, or divide, of the Christian world. The Byzantine Christian Church became known as the Eastern Orthodox church and in the West the church became known as the Roman Catholic Church.

Emperor Alexios I contacts Pope Urban II for military help in Middle East

1095

The Turks and the Byzantines had conflicts for a while, which was making travel to the holy land of Constantinople difficult and threatening to the existence of the Empire. As a result, Emperor Alexios I asked Pope Urban II for help. The emperor asked the pope to send christian knights to help fight the Muslim Turks. The two men had been enemies for many years but the Pope wanted to help free the holy land so he agreed to the favor.

Fourth Crusade

1204

In April of 1204 AD, the Crusaders of Western Europe broke into the catholic city of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. They looted, captured and destroyed parts of the city. The Crusaders fought their fellow Christians and won.

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks

1453

After the Fourth Crusade, the city of Constantinople was not in very good shape. They lost the majority of their land and they were being attacked by many other forces. In 1453 the threat was the Ottoman Turks and they were the cause of the fall of Constantinople.