Byzantine Empire
The eastern part of the Roman Empire that continued for 1,000 years after the west fell, with its capital at Constantinople.
What is it?
The Byzantine Empire was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the eastern Mediterranean. It began in 330 AD when Emperor Constantine moved the capital to Byzantium (renamed Constantinople). It lasted until 1453 when the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople. The empire was Christian, used Greek as its official language, and preserved Roman law and Greek culture.
Why it matters
The Byzantine Empire preserved ancient Greek and Roman knowledge, which later influenced the Renaissance. Its art and architecture, like mosaics and domed churches, inspired many cultures.
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