The Byzantine Empire

Image by Eugène Delacroix - The Yorck Project (2002) 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei (DVD-ROM), distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. ISBN: 3936122202., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150159. Salon Archaeo edited image November 18, 2025

Angi is a freshman student in my Honors World History class and was doing research on the Byzantine Empire. Below is an excerpt from her paper.

The rise of the Byzantine Empire is a significant factor in its widespread growth.  Although multiple scholars have debated the starting date, many agree that the year 476 AD is when the western Roman Empire falls.  In contrast, while the accepted date is 476, some academics have suggested the dates 527-565 AD, with the reign of Justinian I, marking the actual start of the Byzantine Empire (Cartwright, 2018).  However, most of the evidence places the start of the Byzantine (former eastern Roman Empire) in the year 330 AD, when the capital of Constantinople was first being constructed…

At the age of 52 years old, Constantine I became the new emperor of the eastern Roman Empire. Between the years 325-330AD, Constantine rebuilt the capital city of Constantinople and by 330 AD, Constantinople became a dedicated city of the Roman Empire.  The origin of the capital goes back further than one might think. Originally, after being built, Constantine named the capital “New Rome” (Cartwright, 2018).  As opposed to “New Rome,” the rising popularity of the name Constantinople will lead to the capital being renamed…

The capital is described as having an “excellent natural harbor” (Cartwright, 2018).  Cartwright also speaks about massive Theodosian walls, built from 410 to 413 AD, which could withstand attacks from enemies via both the land and sea (Cartwright, 2018).  Although the city was archaeologically impressive, Constantinople was portrayed as a capital with significant amounts of wealth (Cartwright, 2018).  Another key factor in the evolution of the city is the development and practices of the early Christian religion. Although paganism was widely practiced across the region, the new Jewish sect, Christianity was spreading (Forrest, 2025).  Before Constantine’s reign, Christianity was considered a sect within Judaism.  The people under this new religion often experienced persecution over their practices. However, this will ultimately end with the reign of Constantine...

After becoming emperor, Constantine called for the Council of Nicaea over a theological dispute regarding the teachings of Arius and the nature of Jesus (Forrest, 2025).  The meeting helped to establish basic doctrine and the Nicene Creed. After this meeting, Christianity began to take root and spread. Constantine embraced Christianity, along with religious tolerance, throughout the empire.  He would formally convert on his deathbed in 337 AD.