3when opposing political factions banded together
against him in uprisings. At the time, almost
half of Constantinople was burned and tens
of thousands of people killed.
Threats from Without
Geographically, the Byzantine Empire originally
embraced all the lands of the Eastern Roman
Empire. Thus, it stretched from Greece to Syria
and from the Black Sea to Egypt. However, the
lands it controlled ebbed and flowed according to
the external threats it faced. In the sixth century,
Justinian I sought to recover the lost lands of the
West, but his conquests did not endure long.
The seventh century gave rise to several
aggressive enemies: groups of people from
Eastern Europe and Turkey threatened the Balkans,
while the rulers of the Sassanian Empire in Persia
attacked from the east. Both these threats were
ultimately eclipsed by Arab armies. United and
inspired by Islam, these troops drove Byzantine
forces back, conquered the empire’s territories,
and besieged Constantinople on several occasions.
Nonetheless, the city endured until 1453C.E., when
the Ottoman Turks took control (see pages 50–53).Justin D. Lyons is an associate professor in the Department of
History and Government at Cedarville University in Ohio.“Yes! I am now ruler of the
Roman Empire!” exclaims
Odoacer (middle right), as
he prepares to take the
crown that Augustulus (left
with ribbon streamers in
head wreath) once wore.