It was the Emperor Diocletian who decided to split the empire in two, appointing a fellow emperor to rule the West in 293 while Diocletian concentrated on the East, securing the whole of the current Middle East round to Egypt against attack from the Persian Empire, while also guarding the frontier along the river Danube.
It was the Emperor Constantine who founded the new eastern capital of Constantinople, basing it on the existing small Greek town of Byzantium. By the late 300s the Roman Empire was under pressure from barbarians pushing at all its borders, leading to a complex series of wars, alliances, betrayals and defeats. In the 390s the western emperors had moved their court to Milan in northern Italy, closer to the centre of western Europe, and in 402 moved on again to the town of Ravenna, thought to be more defensible because it was situated behind a network of marshes which could only be crossed by a couple of narrow causeways.
The next major figure is the Emperor Justinian who ruled from 527 to 565, and launched expeditions to reconquer North Africa, then to seize back Italy, before being distracted by incursions from the newly warlike Persian Empire, as well as reeling from major outbreaks of plague which decimated the population from the 540s onwards. All his clever schemes came to nothing and he left the Eastern Empire bankrupt.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
4 Days Istanbul Byzantine Herirtage Tour
Day 1 – Istanbul
Arrival to Istanbul and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul
Day 2 – Byzantine Heritage Tour ( Breakfast & Lunch)
After breakfast we will start our Byzantine Heritage Tour with Hippodrome Square. We will visit the Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Bucaleon Palace. Following our lunch we will continue our tour with the famous city walls and gates of Constantinople. Overnight in Istanbul
Day 3 – Byzantine Heritage Tour (Breakfast & Lunch)
After breakfast we will start our tour Valens Aqueducts. Than we will contiune with the Church of Holy Apostles ( Fatih Mosque), Pantacrator Church (Zeyrek Mosque) and Balat District . After having lunch we will continue Chora Church and the famous Galata Tower. Overnight in Istanbul
Day 4 – Istanbul (Breakfast)
After breakfast departure transfer for your flight.
Video by The Byzantine Legacy
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