The Byzantine Empire lasted from the fall of the Western Roman Empire until 1453. Its capital was Constantinople and it preserved Roman heritage and resisted invaders for 1000 years. The most important emperor was Justinian who ruled from 527 to 565 CE and sought to restore the Roman Empire. His armies conquered Northern Africa, Italy, and parts of Spain from other powers. Byzantine art is exemplified by Hagia Sophia, a church in Constantinople decorated with mosaics built on Justinian's orders in the 6th century with its central dome and arched windows. Visigothic art included small churches built of masonry featuring horseshoe arches, vaults, and relief decorations on