empire · 330–1453 AD
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire, centred on Constantinople, which preserved Roman law and Greek learning and endured for a thousand years after the fall of Rome in the West.
Key Takeaways
- The Byzantine Empire was the eastern Roman Empire, lasting until 1453.
- Its capital was Constantinople, founded by Constantine the Great.
- It preserved Roman law and Greek learning through the Middle Ages.
- Its high point came under the emperor Justinian I.
- Capital
- Constantinople
- Greatest emperor
- Justinian I
- Fell
- 1453, to the Ottomans
Surviving the collapse of the western Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire ruled from Constantinople for a millennium, blending Roman statecraft, Greek culture and Orthodox Christianity, and guarding the eastern frontier of Europe until 1453.
The Byzantine Empire was the Roman Empire that never fell. When the western provinces collapsed in the fifth century, the eastern half lived on for another thousand years, ruled from the great city of Constantinople.
Founded as a new capital by Constantine the Great, the empire reached its height under Justinian I, who reconquered lost lands, codified Roman law and built Hagia Sophia. Blending Roman government, Greek culture and Orthodox Christianity, Byzantium guarded the edge of Europe through the medieval centuries until Constantinople finally fell to the Ottomans in 1453.
Key Achievements
- Preserved and transmitted Roman law through Justinian's legal code.
- Built the cathedral of Hagia Sophia.
- Shielded Europe's eastern frontier for centuries.
Notable Figures of Byzantine Empire
Justinian I
84Justinian I was the Byzantine emperor who sought to restore the glory of Rome, reconquering lost western lands, codifying Roman law in the Corpus Juris Civilis, and building the magnificent church of Hagia Sophia.
Constantine the Great
87Constantine the Great was the Roman emperor who became the first to embrace Christianity, ended its persecution, and founded Constantinople as a new capital — decisions that reshaped the Roman world and the future of Europe.
Justinian I
84Justinian I was the Byzantine emperor who sought to restore the glory of Rome, reconquering lost western lands, codifying Roman law in the Corpus Juris Civilis, and building the magnificent church of Hagia Sophia.
Theodora
84Theodora was the Byzantine empress who co-ruled with Justinian I, saved his throne through her courage at the Nika riots, influenced imperial policy on women's rights and religious affairs, and rose from humble origins to become one of antiquity's most powerful women.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Byzantine Empire the same as the Roman Empire?
Yes — the Byzantines called themselves Romans and saw their state as the unbroken continuation of the Roman Empire, ruled from Constantinople after the West fell.