The Byzantium Empire.
Byzantium after Byzantium was created in 1935.
Byzantium (modern day Istanbul) is located directly between Europe and the Middle East / Asia. This made it an ideal location for a trade empire.
Constantinople, or before that, Byzantium.
A bezant is a coin made of gold or silver, minted at Byzantium and used as currency throughout Europe.
The original greek town is Byzantium
The ByzantINE (not Byzantium) Empire was brought to an end by invasions by the Ottoman Turks. First they took over the Byzantine territories in the Balkan Peninsula (southeastern Europe) and then in 1453 captured the capital of the empire, Constantinople.
It was a trade center conveniently located between Asia and Europe.
A bezaunt is another term for a bezant - a coin made of gold or silver, minted at Byzantium and used as currency throughout Europe.
The event that most threatened trade between Europe and Asia was the Muslim conquest of the Middle East. This occurred when the Byzantium was taken over by Muslims, which ended trade between Europe and India.
Istanbul
Byzantium - album - was created in 1996.