Byzantium is named after Byzantium, which is an ancient Greek city located in the Bosporus, which is a strategic waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. In the fourth century, the Roman emperor Constantine renamed it Constantinople and made it the capital of the Roman Empire. Byzantium, located in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, lasted more than 1000 years. It protected Europe from the invasion of eastern forces such as Persians, Arabs and Turks. The Byzantines lasted so long because Constantinople had a strong wall and could get supplies by sea. In the heyday of the 7th century, the Byzantines recovered most of the territories originally belonging to the Roman Empire except Iberian Peninsula (Spain today), Gaul (France today) and Britain. Byzantines once occupied the Middle East, but their empire was ruled by the Balkans and today's Turkey.
The first great Byzantine emperor was Justinian I (482-565). His ambition was to restore the Roman Empire, and he almost succeeded. Justinian I's assistant, Belicha Russ, was the greatest general of his time. He led the imperial army to defeat Persians in the East, Vandals in North Africa, ostrogoths in Italy, Bulgarians and Slavs in the Balkans. In addition to military action, Justinian also established a strong legal and management system, which laid the foundation for the future of the empire and always defended the Christian church.
For centuries, Byzantium had the most prosperous economy in Europe, because Constantinople occupied the most ideal position on the Asia-Europe Black Sea Aegean trade route and was an important destination on the Silk Road from China to the west. Nomissima (an important Byzantine gold coin) has been the standard currency of the Mediterranean for more than 800 years. However, the strategic position of Constantinople finally caused the envy and hatred of the Italian city-state.
Generally speaking, the key to the strength of the Byzantine Empire lies in its excellent army. Through practical experience, they combined the military forces of Rome, Greece, Goth and the Middle East. The core of their army is heavy cavalry with impact, supported by light infantry (Gong Bing) and heavy infantry (armored swordsmen). The army is organized into different units and receives tactics and tactical training, while officers receive military history and theoretical education. Although they often face a large number of untrained enemy troops, they can always win by relying on excellent tactics and excellent training. Byzantine troops often provide information about enemy plans through spy networks and agents, and will lure intruders away by bribery or other means.
Byzantine navy kept the sea open, engaged in trade on the one hand, and maintained supply lines on the other, so that even if Constantinople was surrounded, it would not surrender because of the exhaustion of resources. In the eighth century, Arabs were attacked by land and sea, but were defeated by a secret weapon, Greek fire. This is a chemical weapon made of liquid flammable substances (the composition of which is unknown), which is ejected from a throat. The Arab navy was destroyed by Greek artillery.
Between the 7th and 8th centuries, Arabia occupied Egypt, the Middle East, North Africa and Spain, and took them away from Byzantium forever. 107 1 year, the Turks won in manqiketuo, which cut off the supply of important resources such as livestock, horses and soldiers in Asia Minor. 1204, Crusaders induced the Governor of Venice to use traitors to plunder Constantinople.
/kloc-In the 4th century, the Turks captured the Adriatic fortress, and then bypassed Constantinople and invaded Europe. 1396, they defeated a large number of crusaders in Nico poros and settled many Balkan residents. 1453 in may, Turkish sultan Muhammad Ⅱ captured Constantinople with the help of heavy artillery. The fall of this city also represents the demise of the Byzantine Empire.