Empire dominating Anatolia and southeastern parts of Europe from
395 until 1453, although the process of making it an independent
empire started in 330. The Byzantine Empire was a continuation
of the Roman Empire, representing its eastern part. It would
through the 5th century largely become the only empire in the
Mediterranean Sea. The name Byzantine Empire is an academic
term, used to differentiate this empire from the former Roman
one. It was derived from the original name of Constantinople:
Byzants. The rulers in Constantinope themselves continued the
use of the term "Roman," and their subjects were referred to as
Rhomaioi, "Romans". The major language of the empire was Greek,
but the original languages of every region were commonly used.
After a number of attacks by Muslim Arabs in the late 7th
century, the rulers of Byzantium reformed the army. The army
corps administered and taxed their own districts. This would
strain the development in the empire, and most cities and towns
fell into decline. The empi