
A Byzantine fresco in a Romanian church
In the latter days of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome began to decline in power. The Roman emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire farther east for protection. This new capital, Constantinople, became the center of the Eastern Roman Empire. In this module, you will explore the cultural advancements of the Byzantine Empire through which many Greco-Roman traditions were preserved. In addition, you will examine the disputes that led to the split of the Christian Church into the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church. Finally, you will learn how the advancements of the Byzantine Empire influenced trade and political developments in other areas like Russia and Eastern Europe.