Countries in the Byzantine Empire
| Percent | Country |
| 100% | Albania |
| ~10% | Algeria |
| ~1% | Austria |
| 100% | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Full Answer
Is the Byzantine Empire a Muslim or Christian?
The emperor of Byzantine Empire was Justinian who occupied territories by the Goths and the main occupants of the empire were Christians, but after the fall of Rome; Christians who were horribly persecuted by the Byzantines welcomed the Muslims conquerors with open arms just to tolerate their religion.
Is Byzantium and the Eastern Roman Empire the same thing?
There are certain similarities between the two empires, though they lasted during different time periods. Both the Byzantine and the Roman empires were centers of trade, and much of the wealth in the empires was generated through their extensive trade routes. During the Pax Romana (peace of Rome) trade flourished in the Roman empire.
What is one reason the Byzantine Empire weakened?
The Byzantine Empire fell in 1453. The immediate cause of its fall was pressure by the Ottoman Turks. Ironically enough, the major cause of the decline of the Byzantine Empire (what made it weak enough to fall to the Ottomans) was the Crusades. The Crusades were supposed to be Christian wars against Muslims.
What was the Byzantine Empire like politically?
What was the Byzantine Empire like politically? Throughout its existence, the Byzantine Empire had a reputation both for decadence and for intricate intrigues and powerplays. Even today, the term “byzantine politics” is used to mean overly complicated and involved power structures, where a large number of shifting alliances must be respected, and the penalty for failure can be severe.
When did the Byzantine Empire exist?
The Byzantine Empire existed from approximately 395 CE—when the Roman Empire was split—to 1453. It became one of the leading civilizations in the w...
How was the Byzantine Empire different from the Roman Empire?
The Byzantine Empire was the eastern half of the Roman Empire, and it survived over a thousand years after the western half dissolved. A series of...
How did the Byzantine Empire get its name?
Modern historians use the term Byzantine Empire to distinguish the state from the western portion of the Roman Empire. The name refers to Byzantium...
Where was the Byzantine Empire?
At its greatest extent, the Byzantine Empire covered much of the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, including what is now Italy, Greece, and T...
Did the Byzantine Empire practice Christianity?
Citizens of the Byzantine Empire strongly identified as Christians, just as they identified as Romans. Emperors, seeking to unite their realm under...
Which countries were part of the Byzantine Empire?
As for modern countries that exist where the Empire once stood, that would be Greece, Turkey, most of the Baltic states, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Egypt. They briefly had some holds in what is now Tunisia. Continue Reading. The Byzantines exerted control over a vast territory but unlike most medieval states, ...
What countries did the Byzantine Empire control?
Parts of Ukraine, Russia, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, France, Saudi Arabia, Iraq. It was an enormous nation from the 5th century until the rise of Islam. The Byzantines exerted control over a vast territory but unlike most medieval states, held more direct control through the emperor.
What is the Byzantine Empire?
Byzantine empire is the evolution of the East Roman empire, and obviously started by Roman emperors and in a Roman enviroment (legislation etc) but evolved to a Greek empire in the next centuries, as it is clearly explained by the Greek being the official language. Continue Reading.
How long did the Byzantine Empire last?
They’ll remind you that the Byzantine Eastern Roman Empire was the only descendant of the earlier Roman one, and lasted a thousand years after its Western half had disintegrated. A distinction that makes them feel a cut above the rest of Europe. And.
What would happen if Constantinople took control of Greece?
Even if you took control of Greece, you would be left with little more than a Kingdom. Without Constantinople, you can’t truly restore the Byzantine Empire. Even then, while there are shades of Byzantine culture in Greece, the country is vastly different than its ancestors.
What countries bordered the Eastern Mediterranean?
In other words, all those countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean: Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Albania, Croatia, Greece and for a period parts of northern Italy Venice and parts of southern Italy. 1.2K views.
What was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire?
The Eastern Roman Empire,was an empire with its capital Constantinople was the continuation of the Roman Empire as the emperors (from Heraklion and beyond) were titled "King of the Romans Faithful in Christ".Constantinople is founded by Constantine ‘A, named after her, on May 11, 330 AD.
What was the Byzantine Empire?
Byzantine Empire, the eastern half of the Roman Empire, which survived for a thousand years after the western half had crumbled into various feudal kingdoms and which finally fell to Ottoman Turkish onslaughts in 1453. Byzantine Empire Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The very name Byzantine illustrates the misconceptions to which ...
How long did the Byzantine Empire last?
The Byzantine Empire was the eastern half of the Roman Empire, and it survived over a thousand years after the western half dissolved. A series of regional traumas—including pestilence, warfare, social upheaval, and the Arab Muslim assault of the 630s—marked its cultural and institutional transformation from the Eastern Roman Empire to ...
What is the derivation of Byzantium?
The derivation from Byzantium is suggestive in that it emphasizes a central aspect of Byzantine civilization: the degree to which the empire’s administrative and intellectual life found a focus at Constantinople from 330 to 1453, the year of the city’s last and unsuccessful defense under the 11th (or 12th) Constantine.
What is the Roman Empire?
The Roman Empire, the ancestor of the Byzantine, remarkably blended unity and diversity, the former being by far the better known, since its constituents were the predominant features of Roman civilization.
Where did the name Byzantine come from?
The latter term is derived from the name Byzantium, borne by a colony of ancient Greek foundation on the European side of the Bosporus, midway between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
What are the Eastern Provinces?
The Eastern provinces were ancient and populous centres of that urban life that for millennia had defined the character of Mediterranean civilization. The Western provinces had only lately entered upon their own course of urban development under the not-always-tender ministrations of their Roman masters.
Who was the Byzantine Empire's leader?
During the late 10th and early 11th centuries, under the rule of the Macedonian dynasty founded by Michael III’s successor, Basil, the Byzantine Empire enjoyed a golden age. Though it stretched over less territory, Byzantium had more control over trade, more wealth and more international prestige than under Justinian.
How did Byzantine culture influence the Western intellectual tradition?
Byzantine culture would exert a great influence on the Western intellectual tradition, as scholars of the Italian Renaissance sought help from Byzantine scholars in translating Greek pagan and Christian writings. (This process would continue after 1453, when many of these scholars fled from Constantinople to Italy.)
What were the major monuments built by Justinian?
Many great monuments of the empire would be built under Justinian, including the spectacular domed Church of Holy Wisdom, or Hagia Sophia. Justinian also reformed and codified Roman law, establishing a Byzantine legal code that would endure for centuries and help shape the modern concept of the state.
What was the Eastern Roman Empire known as?
Eastern Roman Empire. As a result of these advantages, the Eastern Roman Empire, variously known as the Byzantine Empire or Byzantium, was able to survive for centuries after the fall of Rome. Though Byzantium was ruled by Roman law and Roman political institutions, and its official language was Latin, Greek was also widely spoken, ...
What was the Byzantine art?
Byzantine Art. The Crusades. Fall of Constantinople. Legacy of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire was a vast and powerful civilization with origins that can be traced to 330 A.D., when the Roman emperor Constantine I dedicated a “New Rome” on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium. Though the western half of the Roman Empire ...
What was the Byzantine Empire like at the time of Justinian's death?
At the time of Justinian’s death, the Byzantine Empire reigned supreme as the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Debts incurred through war had left the empire in dire financial straits, however, and his successors were forced to heavily tax Byzantine citizens in order to keep the empire afloat.
Why was the Eastern half of the Roman Empire less vulnerable to external attack?
The eastern half of the Roman Empire proved less vulnerable to external attack, thanks in part to its geographic location. With Constantinople located on a strait, it was extremely difficult to breach the capital’s defenses; in addition, the eastern empire had a much smaller common frontier with Europe.
What was the Byzantine Empire?
The Byzantine Empire, also called Byzantium, was the eastern half of the Roman Empire, based at Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) that continued on after the western half of the empire collapsed. Byzantium continued on for nearly a millennium until Constantinople itself fell in a siege carried out by the Ottoman Empire in 1453.
What happened to the Byzantine factions?
Byzantine authorities arrested members of the factions and sentenced them to be executed. That’s when the riot broke out; the rioters were angry with Justinian for the arrests, as well as the high taxes he imposed, and tried to overthrow him.
What was the Golden Age of Byzantium?
The golden age of the empire came during the reign of Justinian (A.D. 527-565) during which the empire’s territories extended as far as Western Europe, and the emperor’s builders constructed the Hagia Sophia, a great cathedral that still stands today. Throughout their history, the people of Byzantium continued to refer to themselves as “Romans” ...
What did Justinian say after the cathedral was built?
After it was built, Justinian is said to have remarked “Solomon, I have outdone thee.”. In addition to building an incredible cathedral, Justinian oversaw a major territorial expansion of the empire, winning back territory in North Africa, Italy (including Rome), and parts of Western Europe.
What happened to Constantinople in the 15th century?
The empire struggled on into the 15th century, the emperors gradually losing their importance in favor of religious officials.
When did the Ottoman Empire take Constantinople?
In 1453, after a siege, the growing Ottoman Empire took Constantinople, putting an end to the empire. When the Ottomans examined the Hagia Sophia, which had been built nearly 1,000 years earlier, they were amazed. “What a dome, that vies in rank with the nine spheres of heaven!
Who encouraged the Crusaders to travel to Constantinople?
This meant that in 1203, when a group of cash strapped crusaders were looking for money to finance an expedition to Egypt, they were willing to hear out Prince Alexius Angelos, a claimant to the Byzantine throne, who encouraged them to journey to Constantinople before going to Egypt.
What happened to the Byzantine Empire after Justinian?
After Justinian's reconquest and extensive rebuilding programs, the empire's treasury was left empty. The financial mess weakened the Empire; and forced his successor, Justin II, to suspend payments to the Avars. While the Byzantines were distracted with the Persians, Lombard hordes under king Alboin invaded Italy, and soon conquered most of the peninsula. Later wars with the Persians did not go well in Syria, resulting in mental illness that drove Justin II to his grave.
What was the name of the dynasty that reincorporated North Africa, southern Illyria
Under the Justinian Dynasty, particularly the reign of Justinian I, the Empire reached its largest territorial point, reincorporating North Africa, southern Illyria, southern Spain, and Italy into the Empire. The Justinian Dynasty ended in 602 with the deposition of Maurice and the ascension of his successor, Phocas .
How did the Justinian Dynasty begin?
The Justinian Dynasty began with the accession of its namesake Justin I to the throne. Justin I was born in a small village, Bederiana, in the 450s CE. Like many country youths, he went to Constantinople and enlisted in the army, where, due to his physical abilities, he became a part of the Excubitors, the palace guards. He fought in the Isaurian and Persian wars, and rose through the ranks to become the commander of the Excubitors, which was a very influential position. In this time, he also achieved the rank of senator. After the death of the Emperor Anastasius, who had left no clear heir, there was much dispute as to who would become emperor. To decide who would ascend the throne, a grand meeting was called in the hippodrome. The Byzantine Senate, meanwhile, gathered in the great hall of the palace. As the senate wanted to avoid outside involvement and influence, they were pressed to quickly select a candidate; however, they could not agree. Several candidates were nominated, but were rejected for various reasons. After much arguing, the senate chose to nominate Justin; and he was crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople John of Cappadocia on 10 July.
What happened to Justinian after he was crowned?
After his accession, Justin removed the other candidates to the throne; two were executed and three were punished either with death or exile . Unlike most emperors before him, who were Monophysite, Justin was a devout Orthodox Christian. Monophysites and the Orthodox were in conflict over the dual natures of Christ.
Who was the Byzantine general who helped Belisarius?
Narses , another Byzantine general, was called in to help and he used his influence to help Belisarius break the siege. After a massacre at Milan, breaks in Narses ' command chain were revealed; following a letter from Belisarius, Narses was recalled by Justinian.
Who was the sister of Justinian I?
Petrus Sabbatius, later adopted by Justin and raised to the rank of emperor as Justinian I - (527–565) No issue from the marriage with Theodora. Vigilantia, sister of Justinian I. From the marriage with Dulcissimus.
Where was the meeting called to decide who would ascend the throne?
To decide who would ascend the throne, a grand meeting was called in the hippodrome. The Byzantine Senate, meanwhile, gathered in the great hall of the palace. As the senate wanted to avoid outside involvement and influence, they were pressed to quickly select a candidate; however, they could not agree.
Origins
Justinian I
- Justinian I became emperor in 527. He was the nephew and adopted son of Justin I, who had been a palace guard before usurping the throne in 518. While many historians say that Byzantium's golden age occurred during his reign, Justinian's rule didn't start off very promisingly. Early in his reign, Justinian moved to further cement Christianity as the official religion of the By…
The Byzantine Dark Age
- Justinian I died in 565. The centuries after Justinian's death are sometimes referred to as the Byzantine "Dark Age," as a series of misfortunes befell the empire. In the west, much of the territory that Justinian had captured was lost. By the beginning of the seventh century, "much of Italy was under Lombard rule, Gaul was in Frankish hands and the coastal regions of Spain, the f…
Byzantine Comeback?
- Byzantium never returned to the "golden age" it had experienced during Justinian's rule. Nevertheless, the military situation stabilized in the ninth century, and by the 11th century, Byzantium had regained a considerable amount of territory that it had lost. By the time of Emperor Basil II's death in December 1025, after a reign of almost 50 years, Byzantium was "the dominan…
The Great Schism of 1054
- On July 16, 1054, a papal legate (representative) named Humbert of Silva Candida excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople Michael I Cerularius. At the time Pope Leo IX had recently died and a new pope had not been selected. The patriarch refused to relinquish power and excommunicated Humbert in return. This resulted in a schism breaking out between t…
The Fourth Crusade
- In 1204, an army of crusaders from the west sacked Constantinople and installed a short-lived line of rulers. The idea of Christians crusading against other Christians was strange even by the standards of the Middle Ages. There are a number of reasons why it came to this. The Great Schism of 1054 and the subsequent decades of separation between the Orthodox Church and th…
The End of The Byzantine Empire
- While Constantinople was once again under control of a Greek ruler, its end was drawing near. The empire struggled on into the 15th century, but the emperors gradually lost their importance in favor of religious officials. In 1395, Patriarch Anthony, the Patriarch of Constantinople, felt the need to give a speech explaining why the Byzantine emperor was still important. "The holy empe…
Additional Resources
- The Byzantine Empire's warriors fought many battles. Read about the discovery of a 14th-century soldier whose fractured jaw had been healed with gold thread. You can also learn about some rare 1,000-year-old Byzantine swords in this article. Some examples of Byzantine era shipwreckscan be seen in this photo gallery.
Bibliography
- Geanakoplos, D. (1984) "Byzantium: Church Society, and Civilization Seen through Contemporary Eyes" University of Chicago Press Theotokis, G, and Meško, M. (eds) (2021) "War in Eleventh-Century Byzantium" Routledge, 2021 Gregory, T. (2010) "A History of Byzantium" Wiley-Blackwell John Giebfried and Kyle Lincoln "The Remaking of the Medieval World, 1204 The Fourth Crusade…
Timeline
- October 312Constantine I is victorious at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes emperor of the western half of the Roman Empire. 324Constantine wins the Battle of Chrysopolis and becomes the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. After this Byzantium (later renamed Constantinople) is built up as a second capital of the Roman Empire. 337Constantine dies, shortly after converting to Ch…