Figure 5. The Roman ("Byzantine") Empire, Early Eleventh Century

The term "Byzantine Empire" was coined by Western historians in the 17th century to refer to the Roman Empire after its capital was moved to Constantinople. Constantinople was founded by Roman emperor Constantine, named New Rome, in 330 AD.

With the fall of the Western territory of the empire to barbarian Northern feudal lords, which plunged the West into what is known as the "Dark Ages", the Eastern territories remained as the Roman Empire, or "Romania" for over a millennium.

With its political structure anchored in Greco-Roman tradition, and Christianity becoming the official religion, the Empire survived centuries of triumphs and declines, until Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 AD (see fig. 5).

Data as of December 1994

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