Constantine I: The Real Decline Of The Byzantine Empire

Constantine I, was a Roman Emperor in 330, Constantine decided to make Constantinople the new seat of the Roman Empire: it could be said that this was the real starting date of the Byzantine Empire. While the Western Roman Empire crumbled and fell by 476, the Byzantine one flourished and lasted until 1453 when Constantinople was finally taken by Ottomans. Byzantine Empire was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the eastern part of the Mediterranean. In the course of the fourth century, the Roman world became Increasingly Christian, and the Byzantine Empire was certainly a Christian state.

The major contribution of the Byzantine Empire is the preservation of the Greek language and culture. Greek philosophy, ethics and science became a

foundation of the Western civilization. Constantine decided to adopt Christianity as the state religion established the direction for the future development of our society and morals for centuries. Byzantine Empire had absorbed the scientific development of the East and preserved them, especially in math and astronomy. Architectural masterpiece Hagia Sophia has been built in the time of Byzantine emperor Justinian I, it was the main church of Constantinople and even after being converted to mosque, it is one of the wonderful example of human ability. It was a stunning architectural achievement that combined the longitudinal shape of the Roman basilica with a dome central plan. It is particularly famous because of its massive dome; it was considered to have changed the history of architecture it was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years.

Overall, the Byzantine Empire has had a wide ranging over eastern and even western Mediterranean culture: modern Greece, the Orthodox Church, and ancient Greek learning. The Byzantine had inherited from the Roman Empire the system of aristocracy and bureaucracy, at the top of the hierarchy stood the emperor, who was the sole ruler and who they considered to be there because he was appointed by God himself. It was very clear that in the Byzantine Empire the predominant faith was part of the structure government. It worked hand in hand.