byzantine empire virtual tour

About ByzantineEmpire.org

Welcome to ByzantineEmpire.org – Unveiling the Legacy of a Glorious Civilization

Explore the Riches of Byzantium: Past, Present, and Legacy

Welcome to ByzantineEmpire.org , your digital gateway to the illustrious world of the Byzantine Empire. Immerse yourself in the history, culture, and legacy of one of the most enduring civilizations in human history. Our mission is to bring the fascinating story of Byzantium to life, making it accessible to enthusiasts, scholars, and curious minds alike.

Discover Our Features:

• Timeline of Triumphs and Tribulations: Dive into a meticulously crafted timeline that spans the entire history of the Byzantine Empire. From its foundation in 330 AD to the fall of Constantinople in 1453, every significant event, ruler, and transformation awaits your exploration.
• Virtual Tours of Byzantine Marvels: Embark on a virtual journey through the architectural wonders of Byzantium. From the Hagia Sophia to the Walls of Constantinople, our immersive tours allow you to traverse the landscapes that once defined the Byzantine world.
• In-Depth Articles and Research Papers: Delve into our extensive collection of articles and research papers written by historians and scholars. Whether you’re a student, academic, or just a history enthusiast, our in-depth resources provide a thorough understanding of Byzantine politics, society, and culture.
• Interactive Maps and Geographic Insights: Unearth the geopolitical complexities of the Byzantine Empire with our interactive maps. Trace the expansion and contraction of its borders, explore trade routes, and gain insights into the strategic significance of key regions.
• Byzantine Arts and Artifacts Gallery: Immerse yourself in the beauty of Byzantine art. Our gallery showcases masterpieces of mosaic, iconography, and architecture. Each artifact tells a story of artistic innovation and religious devotion.
• Educational Resources for Students and Teachers: ByzantineEmpire.org is committed to fostering learning. We provide educational resources tailored for students and teachers, including lesson plans, quizzes, and interactive activities to bring history to life in the classroom.

Connect with Us:

Join our community of history enthusiasts, students, and scholars. Follow us on social media for regular updates, discussions, and exclusive content. ByzantineEmpire.org is not just a website; it’s a vibrant community passionate about preserving and sharing the legacy of the Byzantine Empire.

Start Your Journey: Visit ByzantineEmpire.org today and embark on a virtual expedition through time. Uncover the mysteries, marvel at the achievements, and appreciate the enduring legacy of the Byzantine Empire. The journey begins here.

• The Byzantine Empire: 4th Century AD to 1453

The Byzantine Empire began in 395 AD in Modern Day Istanbul as an extension of the Roman empire. It ushered intellectual civilization and was responsible for the spread of Christianity. Though it imploded from the inside and fell to the Ottoman Turks, the empire's influence was a treasure to Western scholars due to its Greek intellectual influence.

5. Formation

In 330 AD, Emperor Constantine I or Constantine the Great founded a new capital for the Roman Empire on Byzantium, an ancient Greek city that is today Istanbul. Byzantium was near the Black sea and the Mediterranean Sea was renamed Constantinople. In 395 AD, when the Roman Empire was divided in half, the Eastern Roman Empire was based in Constantinople, and the Western Roman Empire in Ravenna, Northern Italy. Constantinople’s location shielded it from attacks. When the Western Roman Empire fell in 476 AD to Flavius Odoacer a German Barbarian’s troops , the surviving Eastern Roman empire, became the Byzantine Empire, with Constantinople as the capital city.

4. Rise To Prominence

The Byzantine Empire began gaining prominence when Constantine rebuilt Byzantium, and renamed the city the New Rome. He assigned a senate and civic officers to administer it similarly to Rome, according to accounts by the Order of Constantine the Great. When Constantine became a Christian, he designated Byzantium as a Christian capital city, where pagan sacrifice was forbidden, although it was common in Rome. As Constantinople was located between Europe and Asia, trade boomed. Merchants from Asia, Africa, and Europe travelled to the city to trade. As a result, the Byzantine Empire became a melting point of all external cultural influences, combined with Roman and Greek cultures. Still Christianity remained the dominant religion as the Byzantine emperor was both the head of the church and the empire.

3. Challenges

In 532 AD in Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire was almost brought down by what is historically known as the Nika Riots. The riots were masterminded by the powerful and diehard fanatics of the Blue and the Greens chariot and horse racing teams. These rival supporters joined to violently protest attempts by the Byzantine Empire, led by Emperor Justinian 1, to execute their two leaders who had been arrested for unrest. The protests were also against high taxes which the emperor intended to impose on citizens. The Green and Blues fans ran wild through Constantinople, and burned and destroyed half the city. They even attempted to crown a new ruler. According to the History Channel, Emperor Justinian 1 almost fled, but was stopped by his wife Theodora who urged him to defend his crown. The emperor ordered Generals Belisarius and Mundus, to crush the riots at all costs. His troops blocked the exits of the city’s Hippodrome where horse and chariot race occurred, and the Blue and Green rioting fans used as headquarters. As a result of the attack on the rioters at the Hippodrome, about 30,000 people died equivalent to 10 percent of Constantinople total population.

A fter the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, the surviving Eastern Roman Empire lasted for 1000 years but fell in 1453, to the Ottoman army. The empire’s demise began when the economy got crippled and new emperors without military experience took over. After Emperor Basil II died in 1025, the Byzantine Empire was strong on all fronts including the military. After his death new rulers took over according to Flow of History. They were without experience or regard for the role of peasants within the empire’s fabric. During famine, the nobles took over peasants’ lands and heavily taxed them. The empire also began to depend on expensive mercenaries instead of their army.

By 1369 the Byzantine Empire was collapsing, and when Emperor John V sought fiscal help from the west to counter the budding Turkish threat, he was imprisoned in Venice due to the empire’s debts. Four year later, the Turks compelled the Byzantine Empire to be subject to their sultan. When Murad II became Turkey’s sultan in 1421, he revoked all privileges accorded to the Byzantine Empire then overseen by Emperor John V’s successors. He laid a siege to Constantinople city and his successor Mehmed II, launched a final attack on the city on May 29 th 1453. The last reigning Byzantine emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos died that day in battle, and the fall of Byzantine Empire was complete.

1. Legacy In History

During its existence the Byzantine Empire ushered a culture rich in literature, theology, and arts. It influenced western scholarly traditions as Italian renaissance scholars sought Byzantine intellectuals to translate Greek pagan and Christian writings (according to the History Channel). Even after the Byzantine Empire’s demise, its Christian culture was passed to the Orthodox religion which is practiced in Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece today. Christianity was also responsible for the artistic explosion as Byzantine artists constructed stunning religious art in the magnificent church domes, as a devotion to their faith. Some mosaics were made from colored stone or glass with sparkling of silver and gold. In history, Emperor Constantine I is remembered as the first Roman Emperor to embrace Christianity. The emperor also legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, for the first time.

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Sutton Hoo and Europe

Visitor in Room 41.

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Visiting the gallery

Opening times.

Daily: 10.00–17.00 ( Fridays: 20.30 ) See full opening hours

Advance booking advised

Gallery audio guides.

Listen on the Audio app, available on the  App Store  and  Google Play .

Spanning over 700 years, Room 41 traces the story of Europe from AD 300.

The centuries AD 300–1100 witnessed great change in Europe. The Roman Empire broke down in the west, but continued as the Byzantine Empire in the east. People, objects and ideas travelled across the continent, while Christianity and Islam emerged as major religions. By 1100, the precursors of several modern states had developed. Europe as we know it today was taking shape. Room 41 gives an overview of the period and its peoples. Its unparalleled collections range from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea, and from North Africa to Scandinavia. The gallery's centrepiece is the Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo , Suffolk – one of the most spectacular and important discoveries in British archaeology.

Take a virtual tour

Explore the impressive Anglo-Saxon artefacts found at the Sutton Hoo ship burial in  Room 41  using Google Street View.

Gallery facts

• By AD 500, invasions, religious infighting and political strife had disrupted life in the Roman Empire and it eventually broke down, only enduring in the east as the Byzantine Empire.  
• A few miles from the Suffolk coast, the Sutton Hoo ship burial was one of the most exciting discoveries in British archaeology, and one that profoundly exploded the myth of the 'Dark Ages'.   
• There are two Sutton Hoo helmets in Room 41, the original and a replica showing how the original previously looked. The original helmet is extremely rare, only one of four known complete helmets from Anglo-Saxon England.    
• At the heart of the Sutton Hoo ship burial was a chamber surrounded by riches from Byzantium and beyond, pointing to the existence of international connections.  
• The origin of the term ' Viking ' is uncertain, perhaps coming from Old Norse words for pirates, seaborne expeditions, or an area in south-eastern Norway called Viken.    
• A double-edged sword , such as that on display, was the most prestigious weapon used by Vikings, only available to high-status warriors.  

The Sutton Hoo Helmet - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

Gold Belt Buckle - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

The Franks Casket - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

The Lycurgus Cup - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

Whetstone from the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial - opens in a modal which shows a larger image and a caption

European timeline, AD 300–1100

AD 300–1100

Celtic Britain and Ireland

The roman empire and beyond, the byzantine empire, great migrations.

AD 450–1100

Anglo-Saxon England

AD 750–1100

The Vikings

Sutton hoo shop.

Discover our range of Sutton Hoo products, including replica helmets, keyrings and books.

An introduction to Sutton Hoo

In 1939, Edith Pretty , a landowner at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, asked archaeologist Basil Brown to investigate the largest of several Anglo-Saxon burial mounds on her property. Inside, he made one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries of all time.

Beneath the mound was the imprint of a 27m-long (86ft) ship. At its centre was a ruined burial chamber packed with treasures: Byzantine silverware, sumptuous gold jewellery, a lavish feasting set, and, most famously, an ornate iron helmet. Dating to the early AD 600s, this outstanding burial clearly commemorated a leading figure of East Anglia, the local Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It may even have belonged to a king.

The Sutton Hoo ship burial provides remarkable insights into early Anglo-Saxon England. It reveals a place of exquisite craftsmanship and extensive international connections, spanning Europe and beyond. It also shows that the world of great halls, glittering treasures and formidable warriors described in Anglo-Saxon poetry was not a myth.

Edith Pretty donated the finds to the British Museum in 1939, and they now form a stunning centrepiece to this gallery. The site at Sutton Hoo is managed by the National Trust. Visit the  National Trust page about Sutton Hoo  to find out more.

Explore Sutton Hoo

The Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo

Edith Pretty and the Sutton Hoo story

Inside 'The Dig': film vs reality

Sutton hoo burial finds.

Did you know the Sutton Hoo helmet is one of only four complete Anglo-Saxon helmets to survive from this period?

Accessibility

• A large print guide is available.
• Some objects in this collection feature on the British Sign Language multimedia guide. This resource is temporarily unavailable. You can access a selection of  BSL films  on your own device.
• Some objects in this collection feature on the audio description guide, available on  Soundcloud .
• Seating is available.
• Step-free access.
• View sensory map .

Visit  Accessibility at the Museum  for more information.

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AP®︎/College Art History

Course: ap®︎/college art history   >   unit 4, visualizing imperial rome.

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Explore Rome Reborn, a 3D journey through Rome in 320 C.E. Discover the Circus Maximus, the Imperial Palace, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Learn about the emperors, their monuments, and public facilities. Dive into the history of ancient architecture and the vibrant city life of Rome.

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Video transcript

Stunning 360° Tour Inside Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia (Video)

• Read Later  

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, boasts a captivating history. Originally built as a cathedral in 532 AD during the Byzantine Empire , it reigned as the world's largest cathedral for nearly a millennium. Its awe-inspiring dome, designed by Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, represented architectural brilliance. Now you can see inside with the BBC’s 360° tour.

In 1453, following the Ottoman conquest, the Hagia Sophia was transformed into a mosque , featuring added minarets and Islamic interior modifications. Serving as a significant Islamic religious site for about 500 years, it held profound cultural and spiritual importance. In 1935, under the Republic of Turkey, it was secularized and transitioned into a museum, symbolizing Turkey's secular aspirations and welcoming diverse visitors from across the globe. Nevertheless, on July 24, 2020, a decision was made to revert the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque, sparking debates regarding its historical and cultural significance.

• The Majesty of Mosques: 12 Captivating Photos That Showcase Islamic Architecture
• The Many Incarnations Of Hagia Sophia In Istanbul

Top image: Inside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. Source: Fernikon / Adobe Stock.

By Robbie Mitchell

I’m a graduate of History and Literature from The University of Manchester in England and a total history geek. Since a young age, I’ve been obsessed with history. The weirder the better. I spend my days working as a freelance... Read More

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• Dec 18, 2020

How to Teach the Byzantine Empire and Keep Students Engaged in the Unit

I was chatting with a good friend of mine who is so graciously helping her granddaughter with school this year during remote learning. Being a 6th grader and just starting middle school completely online is tough. At this stage of early adolescence, students are seeking autonomy and independence. If you teach middle school, you probably already know that keeping students engaged while finding a balance of teacher-led lessons and time for independent learning is key at this age. Add virtual learning on top of this, and we have to rethink some of the lessons and ways that we present information. I've found virtual field trips to be a great option that works for both in-person or online learning that offers a good learning balance.

If you are approaching a unit on the Byzantine Empire, one way to hand the reigns over to your students is through a virtual field trip. Through interactive Google Slides, students have time to learn and experience history up close. I've put together a virtual field trip to Constantinople that includes informational text, video, and the best part...Google Earth exploration!

With this tour, students have an opportunity to "walk" along the Walls of Constantine, and "look around" at the city from atop one of the incredible defensive walls. Throughout the virtual field trip, students answer questions that focus on making observations and connections to history. I get that it's easy to ask questions like "summarize the text," but rather these trips ask students to pay attention to their surroundings as they walk around the exterior of the Hagia Sophia, for example. This digital activity asks students to notice how the city has changed over time as they "walk" under the Aqueduct of Valens. When students experience history, they are able to make connections and virtual field trips are a great option for middle school.

We know that students can spend hours scrolling social media, so how do we get students engaged with social studies content in the same way? Virtual field trips allow students the opportunity to move through the content at their own pace. They can interact with the slides, watch short video clips, and maneuver ancient sites using the tools of Google Earth. Critical thinking questions have students take in what they are experiencing at a deeper level.

Teachers tell me continually that virtual field trips are keeping their students engaged and their students are asking for more. If you want to spice up your social studies lessons, check out what teachers have to say about virtual field trips:

"The students loved this virtual field trip! They wanted more!!!" -M.D.

"It was great to see the students engaged in a different type of online learning." -K.F.

"I've used 3 or 4 of your virtual field trips with my SpEd World History students and they're fantastic! I've used it as a way to introduce the next unit that we're studying - it's so easy to use as the links and questions are all included in the presentation. Precious little holds their attention but these certainly do - thank you!" -A.G.

To check out the details of this virtual field trip use the link below.

Byzantine Empire: Constantinople Virtual Field Trip

Looking for something else? Check out the entire collection of virtual field trips HERE .

• Virtual Field Trips
• World History

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Byzantine Empire: Constantinople Virtual Field Trip (Google Earth Exploration)

• Google Apps™
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What educators are saying

Also included in.

Description

Take your students on a virtual tour to Istanbul to learn about the city of Constantinople. Using a combination of Google Earth™ 360-degree views, informational text, video, and visuals, your students will learn about and visit the following: the Walls of Constantinople, Hippodrome of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia, and the Aqueduct of Valens.

This virtual field trip covers:

:: geographic location Constantinople

:: modern-day Istanbul, Turkey

:: Walls of Constantinople (Theodosian Walls)

:: Hippodrome of Constantinople

:: Hagia Sophia

:: Aqueduct of Valens

This Virtual Field Trip Includes:

:: Informational Text (build background knowledge)

:: Response Questions (EDITABLE)

:: Google Earth™ Links to 360-degree views

:: Video Links

:: Grading Rubric & Answer Keys

:: Everything is set up in Google Slides & ready to go!

SEE PREVIEW FOR MORE DETAILS

How it Works:

This virtual field trip can be conducted teacher-led or shared with students through Google Classroom as an independent assignment. Everything is set up for you. This resource is LOW PREP and would even make great sub plans. Student directions are found within the lesson, and direct links are included to specific Google Earth™ locations and videos. All work is completed digitally. No printing necessary.

This virtual field trip is structured. This means that the informational text and links are meaningful and are meant to lead students to think critically as they respond to the questions throughout the virtual field trip. This is also a great way to keep students accountable as they learn and explore. All response questions are EDITABLE, so you can tailor to your class needs. Students complete this activity in edit mode of Google Slides.

Standards Alignment:

:: Common Core Standards for Reading Informational Text

:: Washington State Social Studies Standards for 6th grade World Civilizations.

:: Tennessee 7th Grade World Civilizations Standards

Grading Rubric:

A grading rubric is included which assesses: accuracy, thoroughness, validity, and writing conventions. Answers will vary throughout, as students are recording their observations and findings.

Technology:

Please note that students will need to access Google Earth™ to complete this assignment. Google Earth™ can be accessed on a desktop using Chrome as the browser. If using a tablet or smartphone, simply download the Google Earth App before starting the virtual field trip. Your students will also need access to YouTube to view the video clips.

If you have questions, feel free to reach out prior to purchasing. Looking for another virtual field trip that you don’t see? Let me know! I can be reached directly by email at: [email protected]

Michelle McDonald, B.A.E.

Social Studies Education, K-12

Elementary Education K-8

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Connect with Me:

Instagram @mrsmcdonaldsclassroom

Facebook: mrsmcdonaldsclassroom

Blog: StrategicEducationalServices.com

Follow me on TpT to be the first to learn about new products, sales, and discounts.  Follow Michelle McDonald

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ATTICA: A BYZANTINE PROVINCE

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Description

Attica was an important province of the Byzantine Empire on account of its agricultural and industrial productivity, but also for its cultural contribution – the city of Athens, indissolubly associated with its ancient past, remained a center of learning. The closure of the philosophical schools by Justinian in 529 provoked a period of decline, though the city experienced a renewed flowering in the middle-Byzantine years.

The many-layered architectural tradition and a lasting taste for innovation were stamped on the dozens of new churches built at this time across Athens’ extensive urban fabric, with the result that a new type of church came into being, that known as Athenian. Its main features were small dimensions, harmonious proportions, an elegant eight-sided dome and carefully executed stonework with elaborate brickwork decoration. The countryside was home to structures that were humbler in both plan and materials, but met the cultic requirements of the agricultural communities.