52
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + − + − In 1453, the capital of the Byzantine Empire fell to the [[Ottoman Turks]] after a long cannon bombardament at a time when the Empire had been reduced to a mere shell of its former self. The conquerors renamed the city [[Istanbul]]. + + + + + +
no edit summary
The '''Byzantine Empire''' is the name given to the eastern part of the [[Roman Empire]], which survived until well into the [[Middle Ages]]. First split into an Eastern and Western divisions by [[Constantine]] in the 300s A.D., the Eastern Empire went on to outlive its Western half by 1000 years. The empire was multi-ethnic and predominantly Greek-speaking. The empire's heritage consisted of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], [[Greek]] philosophy, and Roman law.
The '''Byzantine Empire''' is the name given to the eastern part of the [[Roman Empire]], which survived until well into the [[Middle Ages]]. First split into an Eastern and Western divisions by [[Diocletian]] in 293, the Eastern Empire went on to outlive its Western half by 1000 years. The empire was multi-ethnic and predominantly Greek-speaking. The empire's heritage consisted of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], [[Greek]] philosophy,[[Greek]] language, Byzantine Art and Architecture and Roman law.
The empire's history was extremely violent as it was often at war with at least one foreign power. As a result, its borders fluctuated greatly over time, but it was always centered in [[Constantinople]]. While taking on offensive position to "reunite" with the west under Justinian in the 500's, for the most part the positiion of the Empire was defensive in nature, having little desire to increase its borders. For years the cultured Byzantine Empire was the protector of Dark Age Europe, repelling Islamic armies that would stretch to control lands from Morocco to India. An important element in Byzantine survival was Greek Fire, a substance that could burn even in water and was a terror to enemy fleets. The contents were such a carefully guarded secret that to this day they are unknown.
The Empire was often at war with at least one foreign power and as a result, its borders fluctuated greatly over time. However, it was always centred in [[Constantinople]].
While taking on offensive position to "reunite" with the west under Justinian in the 500's, for the most part the position of the Empire was defensive in nature, having little desire, or for the most part, ability, to increase its borders. For years the cultured Byzantine Empire was the protector of Dark Age Europe, repelling Islamic armies that would stretch to control lands from Morocco to India. This didn't stop the Western forces of the Fourth Crusade sacking Constantinople in 1204 and setting up their own "Latin" Empire which lasted until the Byzantine reinstatement in 1261.
On May 29 1453, after the refusal of the Christians in the West to come to their aid, Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, fell to the [[Ottoman Turks]] after a long cannon bombardament - though by this time, following the fall of the city to the Latins in 1204, the Empire had been reduced to a mere shell of its former self.
In time, the conquerors renamed the city [[Istanbul]].
[[Category:European History]][[Category:Roman Empire]]
[[Category:European History]][[Category:Roman Empire]]