Byzantine Empire Defined
Spanning over a millennium, the Byzantine Empire was the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire after the fall of Rome in 476 AD. Its capital was Constantinople, named after Emperor Constantine the Great.
Survival Through Strategy
The Byzantines excelled in diplomacy, espionage, and military strategy, notably Greek fire, an incendiary weapon. Their survival tactics included paying off potential invaders and skillful use of alliances.
Cultural and Religious Influence
Byzantium shaped Eastern Orthodoxy and Christian doctrine through councils like Nicaea and Chalcedon. Its religious icons, architecture, and liturgy influenced Eastern Europe and Russia profoundly.
Preservers of Knowledge
Byzantine scholars preserved Greek and Roman literature, science, and philosophy. The Empire's fall to the Ottomans in 1453 precipitated the Renaissance by driving scholars west with their ancient texts.
Artistic and Architectural Marvels
Byzantine art fused classical, Christian, and Eastern elements. Its crowning architectural achievement, the Hagia Sophia, inspired countless churches and mosques with its innovative dome structure.
Legal Codification Impact
Emperor Justinian's Corpus Juris Civilis was the most systematic Roman law collection. It influenced the development of legal systems throughout Europe and remained in effect in the East until the 19th century.
Economic and Trade Prowess
The Byzantine economy was one of the most advanced pre-industrial economies, featuring a complex system of coinage. Its strategic location fostered international trade, making Constantinople a bustling medieval metropolis.
Capital of the Byzantine Empire?
Rome
Constantinople
Nicaea
Company
