History glossary
Byzantines
a later name for the eastern Romans and their empire, centered on Constantinople.
- Category
- People and empire
- Region
- Eastern Mediterranean, Balkans, and Italy
- Date range
- late antiquity and medieval period
What it means
Byzantines is a later historical label for the people and institutions of the Eastern Roman Empire, centered on Constantinople. They generally understood themselves as Romans, even after imperial rule disappeared in the West. In this story, Byzantine power refers to the eastern empire's surviving authority in places such as Ravenna, southern Italy, and the Adriatic coast after Justinian's reconquests.
Related terms
Stories using this term
Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire
From Pepin's papal-backed monarchy to Charlemagne's coronation, reforms and legacy, the Carolingian Empire reshaped medieval Europe.
The Abbasid Golden Age
From revolution and Baghdad to the House of Wisdom, science, medicine, trade and the fall of the city, the Abbasid Golden Age reshaped global knowledge.
The Rise of Islam
From Muhammad's first revelations to the early caliphates, Islam grew from a Meccan message into a civilisation spanning Africa, Asia and Europe.
The Roman Empire
From Augustus to the fall of the Western Empire, Rome built a vast imperial system whose law, cities, armies and ideas shaped the ancient and medieval worlds.
The Byzantine Empire
From Constantine's new capital to the fall of Constantinople, Byzantium preserved Roman law, Orthodox Christianity, imperial government and classical learning through more than a thousand years of adaptation.
Kievan Rus
The founding of the Rus’ state in the north.
The Norman Conquest of England
From Viking settlers to conquerors, the Normans reshaped England, Italy, and the medieval Mediterranean.
The Viking Age
From raiders to traders, Vikings built kingdoms and networks that reshaped Europe and beyond.
