The Middle Ages
Between Ancient and Modern  |  Feudalism  |  Primogeniture  |  Christendom
The Huns  |  The Barbarians   |  The Byzantine Empire  |  The Moors
The Franks and Charlemagne  |  The Vikings  |  The Normans  |  The Bubonic Plague

The Byzantine Empire

     In 330, Constantine moved his capital from Rome to the The approximate location of the Byazntium Empire for most of its history.Greek city of Byzantium. He renamed the city Constantinople, but we refer to the civilization centered in Constantinople as the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire began to look less like the Roman Empire as the years passed. The empire covered Greece, the Balkans, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt. By the seventh century, Greek had completely replaced Latin as the language of the empire. The Byzantine emperors still thought of themselves as the successors of Caesar Augustus, but over the years Roman influence gradually disappeared.

Click here to learn more.     Seljuk Turks began moving into the Byzantine Empire from Central Asia in the eleventh century. The Turks had recently become Muslims, and the Byzantine emperor feared they would soon overpower his Christian empire. He asked the leader of the Christian church-the Pope-to assist in a holy war against the Turks. In 1095, Pope Urban II launched the first of many Crusades, or "wars of the cross." Soldiers from western Europe left their homes to free the Byzantine Empire of the "unbelievers." This was the first time many Europeans left their homes. Their exposure to new and different cultures was a factor that led to the Renaissance.

     The Crusades were ultimately unsuccessful because the Turks conquered the Byzantine Empire. The city first called Byzantium and later Constantinople is now known as Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish has replaced Greek as the language of Asia Minor, and 99.8% of the people in modern Turkey are Muslims.

Links to Learn More

The Barbarians The Moors

Between Ancient and Modern  |  Feudalism  |  Primogeniture  |  Christendom
The Huns  |  The Barbarians   |  The Byzantine Empire  |  The Moors
The Franks and Charlemagne  |  The Vikings  |  The Normans  |  The Bubonic Plague

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To cite this page:
Dowling, Mike., "The Electronic Passport to the Byzantine Empire," available from ../www.mrdowling.com/703-byzantine.html; Internet; updated Friday, February 11, 2000

© 2000, Mike Dowling. All rights reserved.