History of the Byzantines

Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byantine Capital

330

Constantine rebuilt the Greek city of Byzantium. After he rebuilt the city he renamed it Constantinople. In 330 he made Constantinople the new capital of the empire. After, roeads started fanning out towards the Balkans, North Africa, and the Middle East.

History of the Byzantines

Period: 330 to Feb 25, 1453

Justinian Becomes Emperor of the Byzantines

527

Under the rule of Emperor Justinian, the Byzantine empire reached its peak. He wanted to recover lands in ancient Rome that had been overrun by invaders. The Byzantine armies took back North Africa, Italy, and the southern Iberian peninsula, though the victories were only temporary.

General Belisarius 533-545

533

533-545
General Belisarius was a general who served under emperor Justinians reign. He won battles against the Persians and Ostrogoths. He also suppressed the Nike Revolt. General Belisarius served emperor Justinian with loyalty.

Hagia Sophia Completed

537

Justinian ordered the construction of the Hagia Sophia in 532. It was completed in 537 and was an Eastern Orthodox cathedral. It has served as a Eastern Orthodox Cathedral, a Roman Catholic cathedral, and an Islamic mosque. Today it is a museum and has been since 1935.

Islamic Conquests Parts of the Byzantine Territory

Feb 25, 600

Between 600 and 700, there were wars between the Byzantine empire and the Arab Muslims. Muslims wanted to extend their territory and there were big losses in the Bzantines southern territory.

Emperor Basil II military conquests up to the year of 1025

Feb 25, 1025

Emperor Basil II was in power from 976 until 1025. He was an Emperor of the Byzantine Empire. He had many military conquests including the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria, and the Khazar Campaign. The map attached to this shows the Byzantine Empire in 1025, the end of Emperor Basil II's reign.

Great Schism

Feb 25, 1054

The Great Schism was a split between eastern and western Christianity. The Byzantine church was then called the Eastern Orthodox church or the Greek Orthodox church. The western side then bacame known as the Roman Catholic church. The eastern and western sides treated eachother as rivals even though they were only different branches of the same religion.

Emperor Alexios and Pope Urban II

Feb 25, 1095

Alexios I was the Byzantine Emperor from 1081 to 1118. He slowed the Byzantine Empires decline and started the financial, military, and territorial recovery.
Pope Urban II was pope from 1088 to 1099. He is known for initiating the first crusade and setting up todays Roman Curia to help run the church.

Fourth Crusade

Feb 25, 1204

The fourth crusade was one of the reasons the Byzantine Empire started to decline. It was ment to take over Jerusalem, but invaded Constinople.

End of Byzantines.

Feb 25, 1453

When the Byzantine empire was conquered by the Ottoman Turks it came to an end. Constinople was turned into an Islamic city.