The Byzantine Empire was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the east, with its capital at Constantinople, which Constantine the Great had refounded in 330 CE. The name Byzantine was coined by later historians, and its people called themselves Romans. Its language was Greek and its religion Orthodox Christianity. Under Justinian in the sixth century it reconquered parts of Italy and North Africa and built the Hagia Sophia. After defeat by the Seljuk Turks at Manzikert in 1071 it lost most of Anatolia, and the Fourth Crusade sacked Constantinople in 1204. The empire was restored in 1261 but kept shrinking, and it ended when the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II captured Constantinople.
Before and after
- 274 CEAurelian reunifies the Roman Empire
- 278 CEDiscovery of 278 Paulina
- from 284 CE to 306 CERoman Tetrarchy
- from 284 CE to 565 CEDominate
- from 285 CE to 1453Byzantine Empire
- from 285 CE to 476 CEWestern Roman Empire
- 293 CEConstruction of Diocletian's Palace
- 293 CEDiocletian establishes the Tetrarchy
- 3rd centuryOrigins of Mangup
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 31st century BCE to 14th century BCEConstruction of Stonehenge
- 13th century BCEAncient Celts
- 7th century BCEConstruction of Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- 600 BCEFounding of Milan
- 80 CEThe Colosseum is inaugurated
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 3rd century.