Byzantine Empire  

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-The '''Byzantine Empire''' was the predominantly [[Medieval Greek|Greek]]-speaking continuation of the [[Roman Empire]] during [[Late Antiquity]] and the [[Middle Ages]]. Its capital city was [[Constantinople]] (modern-day [[Istanbul]]), originally known as [[Byzantium]]. Initially the eastern half of the Roman Empire (often called the '''Eastern Roman Empire''' in this context), it survived the 5th century [[Deposition of Romulus Augustulus|fragmentation and collapse]] of the [[Western Roman Empire]] and continued to thrive, existing for an additional thousand years until it [[Fall of Constantinople|fell]] to the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]] in 1453. During most of its existence, the empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in Europe. Both "Byzantine Empire" and "Eastern Roman Empire" are historiographical terms applied in later centuries; its citizens continued to refer to their empire as the ''Roman Empire'' ({{lang-grc|''Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων''}}, [[Romanization of Greek|tr.]] {{transl|grc|''Basileia Rhōmaiōn''}}; {{lang-la|Imperium Romanum}}),{{sfn|Kazhdan|Epstein|1985|p=1}} and ''Romania'' ({{lang|grc|''Ῥωμανία''}}).{{sfnm|1a1=Millar|1y=2006|1pp=2, 15|2a1=James|2y=2010|2p=5|3a1=Freeman|3y=1999|3pp=431, 435–437, 459-462|4a1=Baynes|4a2=Moss|4y=1948|4p=xx|5a1=Ostrogorsky|5y=1969|5p=27|6a1=Kaldellis|6y=2007|6pp=2–3|7a1=Kazhdan|7a2=Constable|7y=1982|7p=12|8a1=Norwich|8y=1998|8p=383}}+The '''Byzantine Empire''' was the predominantly [[Medieval Greek|Greek]]-speaking continuation of the [[Roman Empire]] during [[Late Antiquity]] and the [[Middle Ages]]. Its capital city was [[Constantinople]] (modern-day [[Istanbul]]), originally known as [[Byzantium]]. Initially the eastern half of the Roman Empire (often called the '''Eastern Roman Empire''' in this context), it survived the 5th century [[Deposition of Romulus Augustulus|fragmentation and collapse]] of the [[Western Roman Empire]] and continued to thrive, existing for an additional thousand years until it [[Fall of Constantinople|fell]] to the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]] in 1453. During most of its existence, the empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in Europe. Both "Byzantine Empire" and "Eastern Roman Empire" are historiographical terms applied in later centuries; its citizens continued to refer to their empire as the ''Roman Empire'' and ''Romania''
-Several events from the 4th to 6th centuries mark the transitional period during which the Roman Empire's [[Greek East and Latin West|east and west]] [[Partition of the Roman Empire|divided]]. In 285, the [[List of Byzantine emperors|emperor]] [[Diocletian]] (r. 284–305) partitioned the Roman Empire's administration into eastern and western halves.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=847}} Between 324 and 330, [[Constantine the Great|Constantine I]] (r. 306–337) transferred the main capital from [[Rome]] to [[Byzantium]], later known as ''Constantinople'' ("City of Constantine") and ''Nova Roma'' ("New Rome").{{#tag:ref|The first instance of the designation "New Rome" in an official document is found in the canons of the [[First Council of Constantinople]] (381), where it is used to justify the claim that the patriarchal seat of Constantinople is second only to that of Rome.<ref>{{harvnb|Benz|1963|p=176}}.</ref>|group="n"}} Under [[Theodosius I]] (r. 379–395), [[Christianity]] became the Empire's official [[state religion]] and others such as [[Religion in ancient Rome|Roman polytheism]] were [[Christian persecution of paganism under Theodosius I|proscribed]]. And finally, under the reign of [[Heraclius]] (r. 610–641), the Empire's military and administration were restructured and adopted Greek for official use instead of Latin.{{sfnm|Ostrogorsky|1969|1pp=105–107, 109|Norwich|1998|2p=97|Haywood|2001|3pp=2.17, 3.06, 3.15}} In summation, Byzantium is distinguished from [[ancient Rome]] proper insofar as it was oriented towards Greek rather than Latin culture, and characterised by [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]] rather than [[Religion in ancient Rome|Roman polytheism]].{{sfnm|1a1=Millar|1y=2006|1pp=2, 15|2a1=James|2y=2010|2p=5|3a1=Freeman|3y=1999|3pp=431, 435–437, 459–462|4a1=Baynes|4a2=Moss|4y=1948|4p=xx|5a1=Ostrogorsky|5y=1969|5p=27|6a1=Kaldellis|6y=2007|6pp=2–3|7a1=Kazhdan|7a2=Constable|7y=1982|7p=12|8a1=Norwich|8y=1998|8p=383}}+Several events from the 4th to 6th centuries mark the transitional period during which the Roman Empire's [[Greek East and Latin West|east and west]] [[Partition of the Roman Empire|divided]]. In 285, the [[List of Byzantine emperors|emperor]] [[Diocletian]] (r. 284–305) partitioned the Roman Empire's administration into eastern and western halves. Between 324 and 330, [[Constantine the Great|Constantine I]] (r. 306–337) transferred the main capital from [[Rome]] to [[Byzantium]], later known as ''Constantinople'' ("City of Constantine") and ''Nova Roma'' ("New Rome").
 + 
 +In summation, Byzantium is distinguished from [[ancient Rome]] proper insofar as it was oriented towards Greek rather than Latin culture, and characterised by [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]] rather than [[Religion in ancient Rome|Roman polytheism]].
The borders of the Empire evolved a great deal over its existence, as it went through several cycles of decline and recovery. During the reign of [[Justinian I]] (r. 527–565), the Empire reached its greatest extent after reconquering much of the historically Roman western [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast, including north Africa, Italy, and Rome itself, which it held for two more centuries. During the reign of [[Maurice (emperor)|Maurice]] (r. 582–602), the Empire's eastern frontier was expanded and north stabilised. However, his assassination caused a [[Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628|two-decade-long war]] with [[Sassanid Empire|Sassanid Persia]] which exhausted the Empire's resources and contributed to major territorial losses during the [[Muslim conquests]] of the 7th century. During the 10th-century [[Macedonian dynasty]], the Empire experienced a [[Macedonian Renaissance|golden age]], which culminated in the reign of [[Basil II|Emperor Basil II "the Bulgar-Slayer"]] (r. 976–1025). However, shortly after Basil's death, a neglect of the vast military built up during the Late [[Macedonian dynasty]] caused the Empire to begin to lose territory in Asia Minor to the [[Seljuq dynasty|Seljuk Turks]]. [[Romanos IV Diogenes|Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes]] (r. 1068–1071) and several of his predecessors had attempted to rid [[Eastern Anatolia]] of the Turkish menace, but this endeavor proved ultimately untenable - especially after the disastrous [[Battle of Manzikert|Battle of Manzikert in 1071]]. The borders of the Empire evolved a great deal over its existence, as it went through several cycles of decline and recovery. During the reign of [[Justinian I]] (r. 527–565), the Empire reached its greatest extent after reconquering much of the historically Roman western [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast, including north Africa, Italy, and Rome itself, which it held for two more centuries. During the reign of [[Maurice (emperor)|Maurice]] (r. 582–602), the Empire's eastern frontier was expanded and north stabilised. However, his assassination caused a [[Byzantine–Sassanid War of 602–628|two-decade-long war]] with [[Sassanid Empire|Sassanid Persia]] which exhausted the Empire's resources and contributed to major territorial losses during the [[Muslim conquests]] of the 7th century. During the 10th-century [[Macedonian dynasty]], the Empire experienced a [[Macedonian Renaissance|golden age]], which culminated in the reign of [[Basil II|Emperor Basil II "the Bulgar-Slayer"]] (r. 976–1025). However, shortly after Basil's death, a neglect of the vast military built up during the Late [[Macedonian dynasty]] caused the Empire to begin to lose territory in Asia Minor to the [[Seljuq dynasty|Seljuk Turks]]. [[Romanos IV Diogenes|Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes]] (r. 1068–1071) and several of his predecessors had attempted to rid [[Eastern Anatolia]] of the Turkish menace, but this endeavor proved ultimately untenable - especially after the disastrous [[Battle of Manzikert|Battle of Manzikert in 1071]].

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The Byzantine Empire was the predominantly Greek-speaking continuation of the Roman Empire during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Its capital city was Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), originally known as Byzantium. Initially the eastern half of the Roman Empire (often called the Eastern Roman Empire in this context), it survived the 5th century fragmentation and collapse of the Western Roman Empire and continued to thrive, existing for an additional thousand years until it fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. During most of its existence, the empire was the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in Europe. Both "Byzantine Empire" and "Eastern Roman Empire" are historiographical terms applied in later centuries; its citizens continued to refer to their empire as the Roman Empire and Romania

Several events from the 4th to 6th centuries mark the transitional period during which the Roman Empire's east and west divided. In 285, the emperor Diocletian (r. 284–305) partitioned the Roman Empire's administration into eastern and western halves. Between 324 and 330, Constantine I (r. 306–337) transferred the main capital from Rome to Byzantium, later known as Constantinople ("City of Constantine") and Nova Roma ("New Rome").

In summation, Byzantium is distinguished from ancient Rome proper insofar as it was oriented towards Greek rather than Latin culture, and characterised by Orthodox Christianity rather than Roman polytheism.

The borders of the Empire evolved a great deal over its existence, as it went through several cycles of decline and recovery. During the reign of Justinian I (r. 527–565), the Empire reached its greatest extent after reconquering much of the historically Roman western Mediterranean coast, including north Africa, Italy, and Rome itself, which it held for two more centuries. During the reign of Maurice (r. 582–602), the Empire's eastern frontier was expanded and north stabilised. However, his assassination caused a two-decade-long war with Sassanid Persia which exhausted the Empire's resources and contributed to major territorial losses during the Muslim conquests of the 7th century. During the 10th-century Macedonian dynasty, the Empire experienced a golden age, which culminated in the reign of Emperor Basil II "the Bulgar-Slayer" (r. 976–1025). However, shortly after Basil's death, a neglect of the vast military built up during the Late Macedonian dynasty caused the Empire to begin to lose territory in Asia Minor to the Seljuk Turks. Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068–1071) and several of his predecessors had attempted to rid Eastern Anatolia of the Turkish menace, but this endeavor proved ultimately untenable - especially after the disastrous Battle of Manzikert in 1071.

Despite a prominent period of revival (1081-1180) under the steady leadership of the Komnenos family, who played an instrumental role in the First and Second Crusades, the final centuries of the Empire exhibit a general trend of decline. In 1204, after a period of strife following the downfall of the Komnenos dynasty, the Empire was delivered a mortal blow by the forces of the Fourth Crusade, when Constantinople was sacked and the Empire dissolved and divided into competing Byzantine Greek and Latin realms. Despite the eventual recovery of Constantinople and re-establishment of the Empire in 1261, Byzantium remained only one of a number of small rival states in the area for the final two centuries of its existence. This volatile period lead to its progressive annexation by the Ottomans over the 15th century and the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.


See also


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