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330
Emperor Constantine founded the Byzantine Capital
Constantine I chooses Byzantine to create “New Rome” and make Constantinople as the capital. -
526
Hagia Sophia Completed
This was a church built at Constantinople. It is also called the "Church of Holy Wisdom." It was ruined in a fire and had to be rebuilt. It has been burnt and rebuilt multiple times. -
532
Nika Revolts (riots)
This was one of the most violent riots in Constantinople. It took over 30,000 citizen lives and ruined over half of the city. There were street gangs that enforced political power and the rulers laws. -
535
General Belisarius Military Campaign
General Belisarius was the first general to win as many as victories as Cesear. He had limited men and funds for his military. He was a very successful general. He was a candidate for "Last of the Romans." -
636
Early Islamic Military Campaigns into Byzantine
The conquest brought the collapse of Sassanid Empire. They also took a large amount of territory from the Byzantine Empire. The Islamic military made the armies from Byzantine very exhausted. -
971
Emperor Basil II military conquests of Bulgaria
Basil II slowly made his way into Samuel's territory. As he advanced to the capital he finally took over. Here is where he got his name "Slayer of the Bulgers." -
1054
Great Schism
This was also called the East-West Schism. This was the break between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox churches. Citizens were forced to choose between the two religions. -
1095
Emperor Alexios I contacts Pope Urban II
Emperor Alexios requested aid from Pope Urban. The Emperor needed help because he was beginning to lose power. Urban had a lot of powerful influence politically and military wise. Alexios felt his influence to be very appealing. -
1204
Fourth Crusade (attack on Constantinople)
The goal of the Fourth Crusade was to win back Jerusalem. It did not reach this goal. The crusaders took an unexpected turn towards Constantinople. This crusade was the falling point of Constantinople. -
1453
Fall of Constinatinople to the Ottoman Turks
On May 28, 1453 AD, the final attack occurred. The first attacks at the wall failed. But then the Turks stormed the city through an open gate. The emperor was killed along with many others. Nicolo Barbaro described it was "blood flowed in the city like rainwater in the gutters after a sudden storm" and bodies "floated out to sea like melons along a canal."
