Introduction

Constantine XI leading the defence of Constantinople, by the Greek folk artist Theophilos.

At its height, the Byzantine Empire ruled a sizeable chunk of the known world. They carried an unbroken descent from the ancient Romans down into the 15^th century, and if it hadn’t been for the rise of Islam they could still be around today – a sobering thought when you consider how important their powerbase in the Middle East was to the 20^th century’s economy. So it’s a bit sad that they’re so little known in the West today.

This short series of articles is my attempt to give a brief overview of this vast empire, in an accessible fashion. Brief being the operative word there – the Byzantine Empire covered between 800 and 2000 years, depending on who you talk to. There are many other more comprehensive sources out there, but my aim here is to give you a flavour of what the Byzantines were all about. Hopefully you’ll learn as much reading it as I had to learn to write it.

Part 1: Byzantium Begins

Part 2: Byzantine Battles: The Battle Of Yarmouk

Part 3: Byzantine Politics

Part 4: Byzantine Battles: The Sieges of Constantinople

Part 5: The Plagues of Byzantium

Part 6: End of an Empire: The Fall of Byzantium