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330
Emperor Constantine I Founded the Byzantine Capital
The Roman Emperor Constantine founded the city of Constantinople on the Greek village of Byzantine to be the new capital. It bwas a christain city, was easily defended, and had important trade locations. -
527
General Belisarius Military Campaigns
General Belisarius was one of the generals of the Byzantine Empire. He served under Justinian and he put down the Nika uprising. He helped fight many battles for the Byzantine Empire. -
532
Nika revolt (riots)
A riot the took place for over a week that was one of trhe most violent riots in Constantinoples history. Nearly half of the city was burned or destroyed and thousands of people where killed. This riot was caused by a conflict with chariot racing and anger about some of Justinians policies. -
537
Hagia Sophia Completed
After the riots, Justinian launched a program to make Constantinople better than ever. This idea was to rebuild the church of Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia had a large arching dome, colored marble, and embriodered silk curtains. -
Feb 17, 634
Early Islamic military campaigns into Byzantine territory
After Justinians reign as emperor the Byzantine empire fell and they withstood many attacks from surrounding areas. Some of the most feirce attacks came from the Arab armies that were carrying a new Islam religion. Eventually the Arab armies conquered the Byzantine provinces of Egypt and Syria before advancing on Constantinople, but they failed to conquer constantinople. -
Feb 17, 986
Emperor Basil II military conquests of Bulgaria
The new emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Basil II attempted to conquer Bulgaria but failed. He tried again later and wore down King Samuel of Bulgaria. After 25 years of war, Bulgaria became part of the Byzantine empire. -
Feb 17, 1054
Great Schism
The Great Schism was an event that divided Christianity into Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. The Byzantine Christain Church was changed to the Easthern Orthodox Church and in the west the church became knokwn as the Roman Catholic Church. -
Feb 17, 1096
Emperor Alexios I contacts Pope Urban II for Military Help in Middle East
The Byzantine emperor, Alexius I, asked Pope Urban II for Christian knights to help him fight the Muslim Turks. And although Roman popes and Byzantine emperors were long time rivals, Urban II agreed to help. He agreed to help because he hoped to increase his power in Europe and heal the schism between the Roman and Byzantine churches. -
Feb 17, 1202
Fourth Crusade
Pope Innocent III led the crusaders to attack the Egyptains. Venice helped them but they didn't get teh pay the Crusaders promised. So for payment, the Crusaders helped the Venetians capture and loot Constantinople. -
Feb 17, 1453
Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks
The Byzantine empire continued to decline as it lost land and finally they were taken over by the Ottoman Turks who were led by Mehmet II.
