Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was a continuation of the Roman Empire during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Centered on Constantinople, it was founded in 395 AD and endured until the city's fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453. Its citizens referred to themselves as "Romans" and their state as the "Roman Empire." While the western Roman provinces were Latinized, the eastern parts maintained their Hellenistic culture. Christianity became the state religion under Theodosius I, and Greek gradually replaced Latin for official use. The empire experienced cycles of decline and recovery, reaching its greatest extent under Justinian I, who briefly reconquered parts of Italy and the western Mediterranean.