Byzantine Empire

The riches of the Byzantine Empire were coveted by many—from the Vikings in the northwest to the Arabs in the southeast. Constantinople was the Holy Grail. The Vikings, who crossed the Baltic Sea and descended across Eastern Europe, were the...

The Hagia Sophia remains the symbolic center of Greek Orthodoxy, even centuries after its fall to the Ottomans and its conversion to a mosque.

During his reign, Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos was transfixed with a prophecy that foretold the survival of his dynasty depended on adherence to the acronym "AIMA." AIMA is also the Greek word for "blood". Anxious for the survival of...

The Byzantine Empire has made numerous useful contributions to the world. From the fourth to the fifteenth century, in the vast territory ruled by the Byzantines, science, technology, and human ingenuity produced remarkable inventions that shaped various aspects of...

In the fourth century AD, the Romans abandoned the Classical pagan pantheon for Christianity. This meant swapping Saturnalia festivities for Christmas celebrations. From these early beginnings, the surviving Byzantine Empire would inherit and modify its own Christmas traditions. As the...

The Lake Prespa National Park is a place where nature, culture and history mix in creating a fascinating landmark for visitors of all ages

Greek fire was an incendiary weapon used by the Byzantines in naval battles, spewing fire that even burned on water

Thousands of Turks rushed to Thessaloniki on Friday, November 10th, to honor the anniversary of the passing of Turkey's historic leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Waving Turkish flags and singing traditional songs in his honor, Turkish nationals flocked to the house which...

The ruins of Byzantine culture in Constantinople remain intact to this day reminding the World of the great Byzantine Empire of centuries ago

The defeat at the Battle of Manzikert was a pivotal moment for the Byzantine Empire as it undermined its power and allowed Turk nomads to settle in Anatolia