Give me a walkthrough of The Byzantine Empire in seven bullet points or less.
- Eastern Roman Empire: Not actually a separate empire, it considered itself the continuation of the Roman Empire after the Western Roman Empire fell in 476 AD. Capital was in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).
- Long Lifespan (330-1453 AD): Lasted for over a thousand years, constantly challenged by Persians, Arabs, Ottomans, and others.
- Justinian's Golden Age (527-565 AD): Emperor Justinian I reconquered lost territories, compiled Roman law (Corpus Juris Civilis), and built the Hagia Sophia, a magnificent church.
- Religious Powerhouse: Center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, spreading religion and culture through missionary work and art.
- Iconoclasm Debate (726-843 AD): Fierce arguments erupted over the use of religious icons, splitting the empire and weakening it.
- Resilient Defenses: Constantinople's complex walls, including the Theodosian Walls, made it one of the most impregnable cities for centuries.
- Fall to Ottomans (1453 AD): After centuries of decline, the Ottomans finally conquered Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.
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