The Byzantine Empire

By J Runkle
  • Period: 313 to 337

    Reign of Constantine

    Constantine was a Roman emperor who moved the capital of Constantinople, which were the origins of the Byzantine empire.He reunited the Roman empire during his reign and attempted to solve administrative difficulties. He converted to Christianity, setting an example for other Romans to follow. Constantine also claimed that his rule was divine.
  • 325

    Council of Nicaea

    Constantine organized the Council of Nicaea. He gathered bishops, spokesmen, and leaders from all of the important Christian churches to consider the views of the Arians. The Arians believed that Jesus was a mortal human being instead of him being divine. During the meetings of the council, Constantine's views were swayed.
  • Period: 329 to 379

    Life of St. Basil of Caesarea

    St. Basil of Caesarea was the patriarch of Constantinople during the mid-fourteenth century. He urged churches to adopt reforms that would enhance their effectiveness. He was pious and devoted.
  • 330

    Transfer of Roman government to Constantinople

    The Roman emperor Constantine made Byzantion, later known as Constantinople, his capital. He did this because the eastern Mediterranean was wealthier and also because Constantinople was closer to the Sasanid empire so he could keep a closer watch on them.
  • Period: 527 to 565

    Reign of Justinian

    Justinian was a Byzantine emperor. He helped create the Corpus iuris civilis, the definitive codification of Roman law. He attempted to reconquer the western part of the Roman empire, and he did end up regaining large portions of it.
  • Period: 717 to 741

    Reign of Leo III

    Leo III was a Byzantine emperor. He implemented the iconoclastic policy, which stated that veneration of religious images was sinful. Iconoclasm, or the "breaking of icons", caused many protests and riots throughout the empire, but it also started a movement.
  • Period: 726 to 843

    Iconoclastic controversy

    When Leo III implemented his iconoclastic policy, it became very controversial. The idea of iconoclasm, or the "breaking of icons", was introduced to the empire, and veneration of religious images was viewed as sinful. Leo III began to order the destruction of religious images and prohibited their use in churches, which caused protests and riots throughout the empire.
  • Period: 800 to 900

    Missions of St. Cyril and St. Methodius to the Slavs

    St. Cyril and St. Methodius were brothers who were missionaries to the Slavs. They conducted missions in Bulgaria and Moravia, and they created an alphabet for the previously illiterate people. They also set up schools to introduce the Slavs to religion and literacy.
  • Period: 976 to 1025

    Reign of Basil II, the "Bulgar-Slayer"

    Basil II was a Byzantine emperor. Under his rule, the Byzantine army crushed the Bulgars. He blinded more than fourteen thousand survivors from the battle in which they defeated the Bulgars.
  • 989

    Conversion of Prince Vladmir of Kiev to Orthodox Christianity

    Prince Vladmir of Kiev converted to Orthodox Christianity and demanded that his subjects also converted. While Prince Vladmir himself did not set a good example for his subjects, they still believed in Christianity. Byzantine priests and teachers traveled north to help the Russian convert. The Russian Orthodox church was created, drawing inspiration from the Byzantine churches. After Prince Vladmir's conversion, the Byzantine empire began to influence Russia in many ways.
  • 1054

    Beginning of the schism between the eastern and western Christian churches

    A schism began between Constantinople and Rome concerning the practices of Christianity. Constantinople had the iconoclastic policy, while Rome did not believe in iconoclasm. They also disagreed on forms of worship and the wording of theological teachings. Most of their disagreements were small, but they still caused a large divide. The patriarch and pope excommunicated each other, and Christian churches split. They were renamed the Eastern Orthodox church and the Roman Catholic church.
  • 1071

    Battle of Manzikert

    The Saljuqs began to invade Anatolia in the eleventh century. In an attempt to protect Anatolia, the Byzantine empire entered the Battle of Manzikert with the Saljuqs. The Byzantine army was defeated and the Saljuqs took Anatolia. Anatolia was the principal source of grain, wealth, and military forces in the Byzantine empire, so it's loss damaged the empire and eventually led to its collapse.
  • Period: 1202 to 1204

    Fourth Crusade

    The fourth Crusade was one of many crusades made by Normans and western Europeans to recapture Jerusalem and other holy sites from the Muslims. This particular crusade was diverted by the Venetians. Since they could not make it to their original destination, the crusaders instead travelled to Constantinople and destroyed it.
  • 1453

    Fall of Constantinople

    After the Byzantine empire lost Anatolia in the Battle of Manzikert to the the Saljuqs, they became weak and less powerful. They lasted like this until the mid-fifteenth century, but then conflicts with Italian merchants, western Europeans adventurers, and Turkish nomads arose. Constantinople finally fell to the Ottoman Turks when they captured the city.