 Religion Constantine became Christian Ended persecution of Christians Made Christianity the official religion of Rome  Capital City Moved capital from Rome to Byzantium Rebuilt the city stronger Renamed it Constantinople in 330AD  “City of Constantine”

 City had grown by 500AD Markets, forums, paved roads, cathedral, public baths, palace, hippodrome (place for races) 500,000 people lived there  These people were still called Byzantines  Constantinople remained capital Even under new emperors  Roman Empire split in half in 476AD Eastern half (Byzantium) was stronger  Strongest army in the world  Trade

 Constantinople built at trading crossroads Middle of both land and sea trade routes City became center of trade  Goods  Ideas Taxed trade that went through it  Located on the Bosporus Strait (narrow of water linking two bigger bodies)  Connects Black Sea and Sea of Marmara  Links Europe and Asia

 Ruled Byzantine Empire in 527AD  Energetic ruler  Had been born into a poor family Led him to listen to all those he ruled  Code of Justinian Summarized, simplified, and explained old Roman laws Became the basis of the modern legal system  Married the Empress Theodora Born to a bear-keeper at the Hippodrome Gained power by advising Justinian Improved rights of women in the empire

 Emperor Justinian died in 565AD Byzantine Empire went into decline  Had to fight off invaders from all sides  Lost power, size  Differences between the Western (Roman) and Easter (Byzantine) churches West:  Followed the Pope (Bishop of Rome)  Latin was the official language of the Church in the West East:  Followed the Patriarch  Highest Church official in Constantinople, who had been approved by the Byzantine Emperor  Greek was the official language of the Church in the East

 Iconoclasm Greek Emperor decided to outlaw use of icons  Said they violated 10 Commandments  Iconoclasm: The destruction of icons Pope said icons were fine, excommunicated the Emperor  Schism (split in the Church) Byzantine church felt that Pope didn’t have authority to excommunicate the Emperor Split from the Catholic Church in 1054  Started Easter Orthodox Church

 900-mid 1000s AD  Trade increased Economy grew strong again  City grew Population Diversity  Basil II Ruled from AD Strongest ruler since Justinian Regained some lost land Arts were strong under him

 Islam on the rise Turks started chipping away at the Empire  End of the 12 th Century  War with Venice 1171 AD Dispute over a trade agreement  Sacked by Crusaders Ruled by Christian Crusaders from the West for 50 years Byzantines back in control of capital in 1261AD Empire falling apart and shrinking

 Fall of Constantinople ,000 Turks besieged city by land and sea  Cannons to attack walls 7,000 defenders held out for 2 months  Turks took capital for themselves Renamed it Istanbul Became capital of the Ottoman Empire