The Byzantine Empire is also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, founded by Constantine I. The capital city was Constantinople, which is now called Istanbul. The empire has seen the rise and fall. The rule of the Romans over the empire has been quite phenomenal. The Romans have a history of taking over the lands they want.
In this guide, we are going to learn about the Byzantine Empire, its history, and key events that happened during its era. We are going to learn about how to make such timelines and how they could be beneficial for us. Let's get started.
In this article
Byzantine Empire Timeline: Key Events Rise and Fall
The Byzantine Empire has risen and fallen, but the in-between these two events, there were battles to gain control over the land. The Romans were quite powerful in the capital, as the location of the city was secure, and it was never easy to conquer the city. Here are a few of the key events from the start to the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Founding of Constantinople
Constantinople was founded back in 330 AD by Constantine I. He named it Nova Roma. It was also the capital city. The city was considered to be the wealthiest in the Middle Ages. The location of the city was the prime one, and the walls were unbreakable, making it unconquered for centuries.
Permanent Division of the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was divided into two parts after the death of Roman Emperor Theodosius I. It was divided between his two sons, Honorius and Arcadius.
Honorius ruled the Western Empire, and Arcadius ruled the eastern part of the empire. The imperial administration was separated into parts as well. The eastern empire later became the Byzantine empire.
Fall of the Western Empire
The fall of the Western Empire happened in 476CE. There were administrative failures in the Western Empire, it to its break into parts, and it was lost due to barbarian pressures.
The Germanic Chieftain deposed the last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus. This marked the end of ancient Rome and the start of the Middle Ages.
Reign of Justinian I
Justinian I is one of the most influential Roman emperors and has played a crucial role in reconquering the lost territories. His general, Belisarius, was the most prominent person in his campaign.
The social reforms were made for the prosperity of the people. He also helped create the greatest architectural projects, like the Hagia Sophia.
Arab sieges of Constantinople
The Arab sieges of Constantinople were quite intense and showed the resilience of the Roman Empire. The first siege by the Umayyad Caliphate was stopped by the romaRoman Greek fire.
The second siege by the Suleyman was even stronger, but they still could defeat theRomanss. After these sieges, the Romans took hold of the empire. The Arabs always had strength in terms of numbers and war machinery and posed a clear threat to the empire.
Battle of Manzikert
Manzikert was the turning point of the Byzantine Empire as the Seljuks intervened, and most of the Roman emperors were captured. The Seljuks were able to capture parts of Anatolia.
These battles exposed the military and its planning for warfare. After the battle, a lot of tough decisions were made to protect the empire from its enemies.
Fourth Crusade and Sack of Constantinople
During the Fourth Crusade, the crusaders diverted to Constantinople instead of going to the holy land. This has created a dent in the Byzantine Empire as they crushed churches, holy places, and sacked the city.
This is considered to be the most betraying event as the Crusaders have dented their reputation and exposed the weakness of the Byzantine Empire.
Fall of Constantinople
In 1453, the Turks invaded under the rule of Sultan Mehmed, and he captured Constantinople. The Ottomans used heavy bombardment to break the walls of the city.
Constantine XI and his army tried to maintain their authority over the city, but could not hold on. Constantine was renamed to Istanbul after that event.
Black Death
The Black Death was the end of the Byzantine Empire. The bubonic plague almost wiped out half of the city. Half of the population was killed by the disease. Labor shortages, external threats, disaster in agriculture, and internal strife weakened the empire further.
The lack of death dented the empire so badly that it could not recover by any chance. The Black Death was not just a health crisis; it caused social disruption and exposed the poor management of the administration.
How to Make Such Timelines
EdrawMind is a mind-mapping and timeline maker used to create attractive designs, timelines, Gantt charts, kanban, and fishbone diagrams. Here are a few of the key features of EdrawMind.
- Easy-to-Use Interface: The interface of the tool is quite useful to the users. It is best for users making both simple and complex designs.
- Templates Library: EdrawMind offers a huge library of templates for different types of designs, charts, and timelines. You can use these templates to make your design and diagrams by just doing a little editing.
- Themes and Layout Options: EdrawMind offers themes, styles, and layout options for you to choose. The design adjusts itself according to the chosen theme and layout.
- Multiple Import and Export Options: EdrawMind offers multiple import and export options, including JPG, PDF, and SVG, making it a versatile tool.
Let's check out how to make a timeline with the help of EdrawMind. Here is a step-by-step guide that will help you complete your work better.
Step-by-Step Guide to Create Such Timelines
Step 1Open the tool and click Create
- Open EdrawMind and click Create to open the canvas where you start designing the timeline.
- You can open the canvas by clicking the New MindMap as well.


Step 2Edit your Template and Add Images
Your timeline needs images and text to make it look attractive and more understandable.
- Use the toolbar at the top of the screen
- Click the picture sign to upload pictures from your device.
- Add any text in the related boxes to make it visually appealing.

Step 3Change Themes and Layout
There are plenty of options available for themes and Layouts. Pick one of your choices and apply it to your design.
- Use the toolbar available on the left side of the screen
- Click the one you like the most.

Step 4Export your Timeline
Once all the editing is done, it's time to save your design.
- Click the export button available in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the preferred format and click export to save your design.
- Save the source file as well if you think you might need to change the timeline shortly.

That's it. Your timeline has just been completed and saved. EdrawMind gives you an opportunity to make any design with ease.
Final Words
Timelines are tools to remember an era or events in series. They are made to remember history. The Byzantine empire timeline highlights the key events, including the work done by the Roman emperors and their time of Control over the land. It has also discussed the rise and decline of the empire and the battles to protect the empire.
EdrawMind helps us create such timelines with some attractive and intuitive designs. So, using EdrawMind to make these timelines could be a way through. Use it to make your design speak louder.
