Christianity
In the course of the fourth century, the Roman
world became increasingly Christian, and the
Byzantine Empire was certainly a Christian
state.
Constantinople
So, in 330 CE Constantine decided to make
Byzantium, which he had refounded a couple of
years before and named after himself, his new
residence. Constantinople lay halfway between
the Balkan and the Euphrates, and not too far
from the immense wealth and manpower of Asia
Minor, the vital part of the empire.
"Byzantium" was to become the name for the
East-Roman Empire. After the death of
Constantine, in an attempt to overcome the
growing military and administrative problem,
the Roman Empire was divided into an eastern
and a western part. The western part is
considered as definitely finished by the year 476
Cultural Life
Since the age of the great historian Edward
Gibbon, the Byzantine Empire has a reputation
of stagnation, great luxury and corruption. Most
surely the emperors in Constantinopel held an
eastern court. That means courtlife was ruled by
a very formal hierarchy. There were all kinds of
political intrigues between factions. However,
the image of a luxury-addicted, conspiring,
decadent court with treacherous empresses and
an inert state system is historically inaccurate.
On the contrary: for its age, the Byzantine
Empire was quite modern. Its tax system and
administration were so efficient that the empire
survived more than a thousand years.
Justinian
Byzantine history goes from the founding of
Constantinople as imperial residence on 11 May
330 CE until Tuesday 29 May 1453 CE, when
the Ottoman sultan Memhet II conquered the
city. Most times the history of the Empire is
divided in three periods.
The first of these, from 330 till 867 CE, saw the
creation and survival of a powerful empire.
During the reign of Justinian (527-565 CE), a
last attempt was made to reunite the whole
Roman Empire under one ruler, the one in
Constantinople. This plan largely succeeded: the
wealthy provinces in Italy and Africa were
reconquered, Libya was rejuvenated, and money
bought sufficient diplomatic influence in the
realms of the Frankish rulers in Gaul and the
Visigothic dynasty in Spain. The refound unity
was celebrated with the construction of the
church of Holy Wisdom, Hagia Sophia, in
Constantinople. The price for the reunion,
however, was high. Justinian had to pay off the
Sasanian Persians, and had to deal with firm
resistance, for instance in Italy.
Under Justinian, the lawyer Tribonian (500-547
CE) created the famous Corpus Iuris. The Code
of Justinian, a compilation of all the imperial
285 CE
c. 527 CE - 646 CE
The Byzantine Empire controls
Egypt.
361 CE
531 CE - 534 CE
Roman emperor Julian attempts to
revive Paganism.
376 CE
The Visigoths are fleeing the Huns,
entering the Eastern Roman Empire.
378 CE
The Goths defeat Emperor Valens is
near Adrianople.
391 CE
395 CE - 637 CE
534 CE
469 CE
535 CE
525 CE
536 CE
527 CE - 565 CE
536 CE - 562 CE
545 CE
628 CE
554 CE
637 CE