The Byzantine Empire lasted from 330-1453 CE with its capital of Constantinople, founded by Constantine in 330 CE. Under Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, the Byzantine Empire reached its greatest extent but then lost territory to invaders. The Byzantine Empire preserved Greek and Roman culture and spread Eastern Orthodox Christianity and the Cyrillic alphabet to eastern Europe through missionaries like Cyril and Methodius.

1. Byzantine Empire Notes

3. Byzantine & Sassanid Empires, 6 c

4. Constantinople was the fortress capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, which later became the Byzantine Empire. For hundreds of years, Constantinople was one of the richest cities in the world. Constantinople

5. Arabia: A Threat to the Great Empires ? ?

7. Where was Constantinople? (Istanbul today)

8. What are the advantages of building a major city here?

11. Constantine’s City-- Constantinopolis

15. Emperor Justinian [r. 527-564]

16. Empress Theodora

17. Church of Hagia Sophia [Holy Wisdom]

18. Interior of the Church of Hagia Sophia

24. Spread of Byzantine religion and culture to eastern Europe outside Russia: Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania Romania Bulgaria Serbia