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Summary

In western derived civilization we often forget to adequately study the history of civilizations from which we do not directly descend from. This is a mistake. By ignoring many great civilizations of the past we deny ourselves very relevant lessons taught by these civilizations.

The Byzantine Empire was one of the greatest of European civilizations. The Byzantine civilization, if not the Empire, could be argued to have begun in the year 324 AD. This is the year Constantine became Emperor. Although Constantine disbanded the Diocletian model of government, splitting the Empire into two governing bodies. Constantine ruled over a united Empire but did move his capital to Byzantium. Constantine spent a great deal of time and money preparing the city to be the future capital. The city was renamed Constantinople but is also often called "New Rome".

Like most political entities the history of the Byzantine Empire can be categorized into three parts, a beginning, middle and end or in other words an ascension period, a golden period and a period of decline and fall. There are subcategories but we will not get into that here.

The early period is marked by a separation of identity of the Empire. This period is usually marked from 395 AD when the Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, formally separated with the death of Emperor Theodosius I. Theodosius's son Arcadius, age 17, ruled the Eastern Empire from Constantinople, his other son, 10 year old Honorius, ruled the Western Empire from the city of Milan. At the time everyone thought that this was going to be a temporary setup but it turned out to be permanent.

Notable events in the early period are the building of walls around Constantinople, a rising threat from Barbarians in the west, the eruption of religious debate and conflict after Christianity became a dominant force in t he Empire, the rise of themes and the birth of Islam.

The Golden Period of the Byzantine Empire is considered to have begun in 641 AD. The golden period was marked by massive border changes, constant warfare with Arabs and to a lesser extent Bulgars, a final split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches and a renaissance in the arts.

The final period began 1025 AD and ended with the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD. This period was marked by the loss and reconquest and then loss of Constantinople, constant civil war and the splintering and fall of the Empire.

Peter Dykhuis
1997