Title: 
Headings: 
The Byzantine Empire
The Term "Byzantine Empire"
Early History
Hagia Sophia
The Fight for Survival
Golden Era
End of Empire
Byzantine Art
Image Veneration
The Iconoclastic Crisis
Macedonian Renaissance
Spread of Byzantine Art
Mosaics and Frescoes
Illuminated Manuscripts
Ivories and Enamels
Byzantine Architecture
Basilicas
Greek Cross Churches
Byzantine Monastry, Jerusalem
Byzantine Clothing
Legacy and Importance

Content: its citizens continued to refer to their empire as the Roman Empire. Several events from the 4th to 6th centuries mark the transitional period during which the Roman Empire's east and west divided. In 285, the emperor Diocletian (r. 284-305) partitioned the Roman Empire's administration into eastern and western halves. Between 324 and 330, Constantine I (r. 306-337) transferred the main capital from Rome to Byzantium, later known as Constantinople ("City of Constantine") and Nova Roma ("New Rome"). Under Theodosius I (r. 379-395), Christianity became the Empire's official state religion and others such as Roman polytheism were proscribed. And finally, under the reign of Heraclius (r. 610-641), the Empire's military and administration were restructured and adopted Greek for official use instead of Latin. In summation, Byzantium is distinguished from ancient Rome proper insofar as it was oriented towards Greek rather than Latin culture, and characterised by Orthodox Christianity rather than Roman polytheism. The borders of the Empire evolved a great deal over its existence, as it went through several cycles of decline and recovery. During the reign of Justinian I (r. 527-565), the Empire reached its greatest extent after reconquering much of the historically Roman western Mediterranean coast, including north Africa, Italy, and Rome itself, which it held for two more centuries. During the reign of Maurice (r. 582-602), the Empire's eastern frontier was expanded and the north stabilized.