The Constantinian &
Byzantine Empires

The Eastern Roman Empire, later known as the Byzantine Empire, emerged after the division of the Roman Empire following Constantine the Great’s reign. Centered in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), it preserved Roman law, culture, and imperial tradition while gradually evolving into a distinctly Greek-speaking, Christian empire. Surviving the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, Byzantium became a beacon of learning, art, and military resilience, enduring for over a thousand years until its fall to the Ottomans in 1453. It played a crucial role in preserving classical knowledge and shaping the medieval Christian world.​