The Byzantine Empire
The Eastern Roman Empire lasted until 1453 from its capital Constantinople.
About this topic
The Byzantine Empire was the eastern half of the Roman Empire that survived the fall of the West and lasted until 1453. Its capital, Constantinople (modern Istanbul), was founded by Constantine in 330 CE on the Bosphorus strait, a superb site controlling trade between Europe and Asia and protected by massive walls. Its people spoke Greek and followed Orthodox Christianity.
Emperor Justinian (527 to 565) reconquered parts of the West, built the Hagia Sophia with its enormous dome, and organized Roman law into the Justinian Code, which shaped legal systems in Europe. His wife Theodora was a powerful adviser, and the Nika riots nearly toppled him. Byzantine scholars preserved Greek and Roman texts, and artists made icons and glittering mosaics.
The Empire used Greek fire, a flammable liquid weapon, to defend against naval attack. Disagreements with the Roman pope led to the Great Schism of 1054, splitting Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. Crusaders sacked the city in 1204, and in 1453 the Ottoman Turks under Mehmed II took it using huge cannons. A misconception is that Byzantines called themselves Byzantine; they considered themselves Romans. Their influence reached Russia, which adopted Orthodoxy and the Cyrillic alphabet.
Key ideas
- Justinian's laws
- Hagia Sophia
- Greek Orthodox Christianity
Quick check
Use cases: where The Byzantine Empire helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind The Byzantine Empire before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall The Byzantine Empire without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how The Byzantine Empire changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain The Byzantine Empire in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Byzantine Empire?
The Eastern Roman Empire lasted until 1453 from its capital Constantinople.
What will I learn in The Byzantine Empire?
Justinian's laws. Hagia Sophia. Greek Orthodox Christianity.
Is The Byzantine Empire part of World History?
Yes. It is one of 80 World History topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the The Byzantine Empire lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study The Byzantine Empire?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.