The Byzantine Empire prospered as a blending of Greek, Roman, Christian, and other cultures while the Western Roman Empire declined. Christianity was influential but divisions grew between the Orthodox Byzantine church and Catholic Roman church, resulting in a schism in 1054. The Hagia Sophia was completed in just six years and served as a church, mosque, and now museum, showcasing the Byzantine blend of architectural styles. For over 1000 years the Byzantines advanced culture through preserving classical knowledge, iconography, mosaics, and blending architectural influences.