Did you know the Byzantine Empire was actually the Eastern Roman Empire? When the western half of the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD, the eastern half survived and thrived for nearly a thousand more years. Its capital, Constantinople, was founded by Emperor Constantine in 330 AD on the site of the ancient Greek city of Byzantium. The Byzantines called themselves Romans, not Byzantines — that name was invented by later historians. At its height, the empire stretched across the Balkans, Anatolia, the Levant, Egypt, and southern Italy. What was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire?

The Byzantine Empire reached its greatest territorial extent under Emperor Justinian I (reigned 527–565 AD). Justinian reconquered much of the former Western Roman Empire, including Italy, North Africa, and parts of Spain. He also created the Justinian Code, a systematic collection of Roman law that became the foundation of many modern legal systems. His general Belisarius won stunning victories, and Justinian built the magnificent Hagia Sophia church in Constantinople. What famous church did Justinian I build in Constantinople?

After Justinian's death, the Byzantine Empire faced centuries of struggle. A major turning point was the rise of Islam in the 7th century. Arab armies conquered Byzantine territories in the Levant, Egypt, and North Africa. The empire lost its richest provinces but survived because of its strong defenses, especially the walls of Constantinople. In 674–678 and again in 717–718, Arab sieges of Constantinople failed. The Byzantines used a secret weapon called Greek fire — a flammable liquid that burned even on water. What secret weapon helped the Byzantines defeat Arab sieges?

A tragic event weakened the Byzantine Empire in 1204: the Fourth Crusade. Crusaders, originally bound for the Holy Land, diverted to Constantinople and sacked the city. They looted churches, destroyed libraries, and established a short-lived Latin Empire. The Byzantines recaptured Constantinople in 1261, but the empire never fully recovered. This event deeply scarred Byzantine identity and left the empire vulnerable to future enemies. Which event in 1204 badly weakened the Byzantine Empire?

As the Byzantine Empire weakened, a new power rose in Anatolia: the Ottoman Turks. Originally a small principality, the Ottomans expanded under leaders like Osman I and Orhan. By the 14th century, they had crossed into Europe and controlled much of the Balkans. In 1389, they defeated the Serbs at the Battle of Kosovo. The Ottomans surrounded Constantinople from both sides, cutting off its land routes and slowly strangling the city. Which group rose to power in Anatolia as the Byzantine Empire weakened?

The man who would conquer Constantinople was Sultan Mehmed II, only 21 years old when he became sultan in 1451. Known as Mehmed the Conqueror, he was intelligent, ambitious, and obsessed with taking the city. He built a massive fortress called Rumeli Hisari on the European side of the Bosphorus to cut off Byzantine supplies. He also commissioned a giant cannon called the Basilica, which could fire stone balls weighing over 600 kilograms. Who was the Ottoman sultan who conquered Constantinople in 1453?

The siege of Constantinople began on April 6, 1453. The Byzantine defenders, led by Emperor Constantine XI, were vastly outnumbered — perhaps 7,000 to 10,000 men against an Ottoman army of 50,000 to 80,000. The city's famous land walls, built by Emperor Theodosius II in the 5th century, had protected Constantinople for a thousand years. Mehmed's giant cannon bombarded the walls for weeks, but the Byzantines repaired them each night. Who led the Byzantine defense of Constantinople in 1453?

In the early hours of May 29, 1453, the Ottomans launched their final assault. After two days of intense bombardment, the land walls were breached near the Gate of St. Romanus. The Ottomans rushed through, and the defense collapsed. Emperor Constantine XI reportedly tore off his imperial insignia and died fighting in the streets. By midday, Mehmed II entered the city and declared it his capital. On what date did Constantinople fall to the Ottomans?

The fall of Constantinople shocked Europe. Many historians mark 1453 as the end of the Middle Ages. The Ottomans now controlled the eastern Mediterranean, and many Byzantine scholars fled to Italy, bringing ancient Greek manuscripts with them. This helped fuel the Renaissance. The city was renamed Istanbul and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire. What larger historical period is often said to have ended with the fall of Constantinople?

The fall of Constantinople had long-lasting effects. The Ottoman Empire became a major world power and controlled key trade routes between Europe and Asia. European nations, unable to trade easily with the East, began seeking sea routes to India and China. This led to the Age of Exploration. Meanwhile, Byzantine culture and Orthodox Christianity survived in Russia and other regions. What was one major consequence of the fall of Constantinople?