Byzantine Empire

Sultan Mehmet II, el-Fatih.

The Byzantine Empire helped further civilization by keeping what the Greeks and Romans learnt alive during the Medieval times where much of it was lost in the West. They developed Orthodox Christianity.

Byzantine Empire is a term historians have coined to indicate the eastern part of the Roman Empire after the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire in 476. The western part fell under the weight of the invasions by Germanic peoples. The eastern part was not affected by these invasions and continued to exist from another 1,000 years. The term Byzantine is derived from Byzantium, the name of the Greek city of Byzantium which was redeveloped, turned into the imperial capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire and renamed Constantinople (city of Constantine) by Constantine the Great in 330. It is used to refer tot the fact that this empire quite soon became centred on Greece and Greek in character after it lost most of its non-Greek territories. Greek replaced Latin as the official language of this empire in 620, about 150 years after the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire. The Romans did not use this term. They used Roman Empire or Romania (which did not refer to the modern county of Romania).

The Byzantine emperors did what emperos do. They ruled their empire

The Byzantine Empire faced numerous attacks from various armies throughout its history, most notably from the Seljuk Turks, who invaded from the east, and later the Ottoman Turks, who advanced from the northwest. Additionally, the Crusaders, initially allies, launched military campaigns against Byzantine territories from the west. Other threats included invasions from the Bulgars and the Pechenegs, primarily from the north. These multiple fronts contributed to the gradual decline of Byzantine power.

Theodora, as empress of the Byzantine Empire, significantly influenced laws and military strategy through her strong political acumen and advocacy for social reforms. She played a crucial role in the formulation of the Justinian Code, which improved women's rights and addressed issues like prostitution and inheritance. Additionally, Theodora's strategic counsel during the Nika Riots in 532 AD helped stabilize the empire, as she urged Emperor Justinian to suppress the revolt rather than flee, showcasing her impact on military decisions and governance. Her leadership exemplified the power and influence of women in Byzantine politics.

Italy

Parts of the western Roman Empire <--apex

Africa

It is when The Roman Catholic Church and The Eastern Orthodox Church had The Great Schism, in which The Roman Catholic Church broke off The Orthodox Church.

Justinian's reclamation of parts of the western empire helped the Byzantine Empire by restoring territories that increased its economic resources and strategic power, allowing for a brief resurgence in trade and military strength. However, these military campaigns also strained the empire's finances and stretched its military resources thin, leading to overextension and vulnerabilities. Additionally, the costs of maintaining these territories contributed to internal dissent and weakened the empire's ability to fend off external threats. Ultimately, while his conquests showcased Byzantine ambition, they also sowed seeds of future instability.