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The '''Byzantine Empire''' is the great Greek-language Christian empire that emerged after 395AD from the eastern part of the [[Roman Empire]], Thanks to efficient government and clever diplomacy that divided its many enemies, the Empire survived.  Much diminished after 1200 AD, it finally fell to the Turks in 1453--indeed its fall is often used to date the end of the [[Middle Ages]].  Its capital was Constantinople (which it renamed [[Byzantium]] and is now [[Istanbul]]).  The center of Orthodox Christianity, it is famous as well for its art and culture.

The '''Byzantine Empire''' is the great Greek-language Christian empire that emerged after 395AD from the eastern part of the [[Roman Empire]], Thanks to efficient government and clever diplomacy that divided its many enemies, the empire survived.  Much diminished after 1204 AD when it was sacked by Christian Crusaders from the west en route to liberate Jerusalem, it finally fell to the Turks in 1453--indeed its fall is often used to date the end of the [[Middle Ages]].  Its capital was Constantinople, built on the site of the Greek colony of [[Byzantium]] and which is now known as [[Istanbul]]).  The center of Orthodox Christianity, it is famous as well for its art and culture. The inhabitants of the empire referred to themselves as 'Romans' and considered themselves as such, the term 'Byzantine' not being used to describe the empire and its peoples until the seventeenth century, but after the seventh century the language of empire changed from Latin to Greek.

[[File:Byz-army.jpg|thumb|250px]]

[[File:Byz-army.jpg|thumb|250px]]

By the mid third century, the Roman Empire was beginning to become unmanagable because of its size and the slow speed of communication from one end to another. In an attempt to ovewrcome these difficulties,the Emperor Diocletian split the Roman Empire into two in 293 AD; each half having an 'Augustus' and a 'Caesar', his second in command and intended successor. This experiment didn't last long and Constantine re united the empire, moving its capital from Rome to the city of Byzantium which, in due course, he renamed 'Constantinople'.   

By the mid third century, the Roman Empire was beginning to become unmanagable because of its size and the slow speed of communication from one end to another. In an attempt to ovewrcome these difficulties,the Emperor Diocletian split the Roman Empire into two in 293 AD; each half having an 'Augustus' and a 'Caesar', his second in command and intended successor. This experiment didn't last long and Constantine re united the empire, moving its capital from Rome to the city of Byzantium which, in due course, he renamed 'Constantinople'.   

==Culture==

==Culture==

The empire was multi-ethnic and predominantly Greek-speaking and Christian.  The empire's heritage consisted of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], ancient Greek culture, Byzantine art and architecture and [[Roman law]].  Of the 55,000 ancient Greek texts in existence today, some 40,000 were transmitted by Byzantine scribes. And it was the Byzantine Empire that shielded Western Europe from invasion until it was ready to take its own place at the center of the world stage.  

The empire was multi-ethnic and officially Orthodox Christian; after c 750 AD, predominantly Greek-speaking.  The empire's heritage consisted of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], ancient Greek culture, Byzantine art and architecture and [[Roman law]].  Of the 55,000 ancient Greek texts in existence today, some 40,000 were transmitted by Byzantine scribes. And it was the Byzantine Empire that shielded Western Europe from invasion until it was ready to take its own place at the center of the world stage.  

[[File:Byz-600.jpg|thumb|600px|left]]

[[File:Byz-600.jpg|thumb|600px|left]]

==Survival==

==Survival==

* Luttwak, Edward N. ''The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire'' (2009), military and diplomacy

* Luttwak, Edward N. ''The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire'' (2009), military and diplomacy

* Shepard, Jonathan, ed. ''The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c.500-1492'' (2009), advanced scholarship [http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-History-Byzantine-Empire-c-500-1492/dp/0521832314/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256811926&sr=1-7 excerpt and text search]

* Shepard, Jonathan, ed. ''The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c.500-1492'' (2009), advanced scholarship [http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-History-Byzantine-Empire-c-500-1492/dp/0521832314/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256811926&sr=1-7 excerpt and text search]

 

[[Category:European History]]

[[Category:European History]]

[[Category:Roman Empire]]

[[Category:Roman Empire]]