The Byzantine World: Explore Sites, History and Daily Life
Explore the Byzantine world through mosaic churches, monasteries, fortified cities and imperial buildings. The site collection stretches from Italy and the Balkans to North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean, with domed interiors, city gates, cisterns and bridges among the surviving structures.
Alongside the map, read about daily life and government in the eastern Roman Empire, or browse the Byzantine emperors. The background articles cover subjects including housing, work, food, trade, defence and law; related reading examines religious change at ancient sites.
Explore Byzantine sites
Explore 600+ Byzantine sites, including mosaic churches, monasteries, fortified cities, burial chapels, bridges and imperial residences, with a map.
Daily life
Byzantine Daily Life: Family, Food, Work and Belief
Discover how people lived in Byzantium, from the work of the household to community life, and how their experiences differed with wealth and status.
- Byzantine Clothing and Appearance: Dress, Status, and Daily Life
- Byzantine Family Life and Social Roles in the Eastern Roman Empire
- Byzantine Food and Drink: Diet, Cooking, Fasting, and Provisioning
- Byzantine Housing and Living Conditions: How Households Used Domestic Space
- Byzantine Medicine and Healthcare: Knowledge, Practitioners, and Hospitals
- Byzantine Religious Practices and Festivals: Worship, Fasting and Sacred Time
History and society
Byzantine History and Society: Government, Economy, Religion and Culture
Discover how Byzantine society changed over a thousand years and how its institutions sustained an empire centred on Constantinople.
- Byzantine Culture and Arts: Institutions, Learning and Creative Practice
- Byzantine Diplomacy: Envoys, Alliances and Imperial Negotiation
- Byzantine Economy: Farming, Production and Trade
- Byzantine Geography, Population and Languages: Territory, Society and Belonging
- Byzantine Government and Administration: Imperial Authority and Provincial Rule
- Byzantine History: The Eastern Roman Empire to 1453
Emperors
Overview of all Byzantine Emperors
This page presents a complete chronological overview of every emperor who ruled the Byzantine Empire, from Constantine the Great to Constantine XI. Covering more than a thousand years of history, it lists each emperor alongside their reign period and a…
- Alexander: Byzantine Emperor and Macedonian Dynasty Ruler
- Alexios I Komnenos: Byzantine Emperor and Architect of the Komnenian Restoration
- Alexios II Komnenos: The Byzantine Emperor and His Reign
- Alexios III Angelos: Byzantine Emperor and the Fourth Crusade
- Alexios IV Angelos: Byzantine Emperor and the Fourth Crusade
- Alexios V Doukas: The Last Byzantine Emperor of Constantinople Before the Latin Occupation
More articles (89)
- Anastasius I Dicorus: Eastern Roman Emperor and Reformer
- Anastasius II: Byzantine Emperor and His Role in Early 8th Century History
- Andronikos I Komnenos: Byzantine Emperor and Reformer
- Andronikos II Palaiologos: Byzantine Emperor and Cultural Patron
- Andronikos III Palaiologos: Byzantine Emperor and His Reign
- Andronikos IV Palaiologos: Byzantine Emperor and Dynastic Figure
- Arcadius and the Eastern Roman Empire
- Artabasdos: Byzantine Usurper and Military Leader in the 8th Century
- Basil I: Byzantine Emperor and Founder of the Macedonian Dynasty
- Basil II Porphyrogenitus: Byzantine Emperor and Military Leader
- Basiliscus: Eastern Roman Emperor and His Impact on Late Antiquity
- Constans II: Byzantine Emperor and Architect of Medieval Adaptation
- Constantine IV and Byzantium: Leadership and Legacy in the Eastern Roman Empire
- Constantine IX Monomachos: Byzantine Emperor and Cultural Patron
- Constantine the Great: Architect of the Roman Empire’s Transformation
- Constantine V: Byzantine Emperor and Reformer
- Constantine VI: Byzantine Emperor and His Impact on Imperial Authority
- Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus: Byzantine Emperor and Patron of Knowledge
- Constantine VIII: Byzantine Emperor and Ceremonial Monarch
- Constantine X Doukas: Byzantine Emperor and His Impact on the Empire
- Constantine XI Palaiologos: The Last Byzantine Emperor and His Legacy
- Constantius II: Roman Emperor and Architect of Mid-Fourth Century Imperial Governance
- Eudokia Makrembolitissa: Influential Byzantine Empress and Regent
- Flavius Valens: Roman Emperor of the Eastern Provinces and His Historical Impact
- Galerius: Roman Emperor and Architect of the Tetrarchy
- Heraclius and the Eastern Roman Empire: Leadership and Legacy
- Heraclius Constantine: The Brief Byzantine Emperor and Dynastic Influence
- Heraclonas: The Brief Byzantine Emperor and His Role in 7th Century Imperial Crisis
- Irene of Athens: The First Empress Regnant of the Byzantine Empire
- Isaac I Komnenos: Byzantine Emperor and Reformer
- Isaac II Angelos: Byzantine Emperor and His Reign
- John I Tzimiskes: Byzantine Emperor and Military Leader
- John II Komnenos: Byzantine Emperor and Restorer of Imperial Power
- John III Doukas Vatatzes and the Nicaean Empire: Leadership and Legacy
- John IV Doukas Laskaris: The Child-Emperor of the Nicaean Byzantine Empire
- John V Palaiologos: Byzantine Emperor During the Empire’s Decline
- John VI Kantakouzenos: Byzantine Emperor and Chronicler of Decline
- John VII Palaiologos: Byzantine Prince and Ruler of Thessalonica
- John VIII Palaiologos: Byzantine Emperor and Diplomatic Leader of the Late Empire
- Jovian: Roman Emperor and Restorer of Christian Privileges
- Julian the Apostate: Roman Emperor and Restorer of Classical Traditions
- Justin I and the Byzantine Empire: Leadership and Legacy
- Justin II and the Byzantine Empire: Governance and Challenges in the Sixth Century
- Justinian I: Architect of the Eastern Roman Empire’s Legal and Territorial Legacy
- Justinian II: Byzantine Emperor and His Impact on Imperial Authority
- Leo I: Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire and Architect of Byzantine Authority
- Leo II: Child Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire and His Role in Dynastic Succession
- Leo III the Isaurian: Byzantine Emperor and Reformer
- Leo IV the Khazar: Byzantine Emperor and Transitional Ruler
- Leo V the Armenian: Byzantine Emperor and Iconoclast Leader
- Leo VI and the Byzantine Empire: Governance, Law, and Legacy
- Leontius: Byzantine Emperor and Military Leader in Late 7th Century
- Licinius: Roman Emperor and Key Figure in Early 4th Century Imperial Transition
- Manuel I Komnenos: Byzantine Emperor and Mediterranean Strategist
- Manuel II Palaiologos: Byzantine Emperor and Diplomatic Leader
- Marcian and the Eastern Roman Empire: Governance, Church, and Military in the 5th Century
- Maurice: Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire and His Impact on Byzantine History
- Maximinus Daza: The Last Roman Pharaoh and Eastern Emperor
- Michael I Rangabe: Byzantine Emperor and His Impact on Empire and Church
- Michael II: Byzantine Emperor and Founder of the Amorian Dynasty
- Michael III
- Michael IV the Paphlagonian: Byzantine Emperor and His Reign
- Michael IX Palaiologos: Byzantine Co-Emperor and Military Leader
- Michael V Kalaphates: Byzantine Emperor and Political Crisis
- Michael VI Bringas: Byzantine Emperor and Transitional Figure in Imperial Politics
- Michael VII Doukas: Byzantine Emperor and His Reign
- Michael VIII Palaiologos: Restorer of the Byzantine Empire
- Nikephoros I: Byzantine Emperor and Reformer
- Nikephoros II Phokas: Byzantine Emperor and Military Leader
- Nikephoros III Botaneiates: Byzantine Emperor and Military Leader
- Philippicus: Byzantine Emperor and His Impact on Early 8th Century Empire
- Phocas and the Eastern Roman Empire
- Romanos I Lekapenos: Byzantine Emperor and Architect of Mid-Tenth Century Stability
- Romanos II: Byzantine Emperor and Military Strategist
- Romanos III Argyros: Byzantine Emperor and His Reign
- Romanos IV Diogenes: Byzantine Emperor and Military Reformer
- Staurakios: The Brief Byzantine Emperor and His Impact on Imperial Authority
- Theodora Porphyrogenita: Last Macedonian Empress of Byzantium
- Theodore I Komnenos Laskaris: Founder of the Empire of Nicaea and Byzantine Successor State
- Theodore II Doukas Laskaris: Emperor of Nicaea and Byzantine Successor State Leader
- Theodosius I: Roman Emperor and Architect of Late Antiquity
- Theodosius II: Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire and His Legacy
- Theodosius III: Byzantine Emperor During the Early Eighth Century
- Theophilos: Byzantine Emperor and Iconoclast Leader
- Tiberius II Constantine: Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire and His Reign
- Tiberius III: Byzantine Emperor and Naval Commander During the Twenty Years’ Anarchy
- Valentinian I: Emperor of the Western Roman Empire and His Role in Frontier Defense and Administration
- Zeno: Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire and His Historical Role
- Zoe Porphyrogenita: Influential Byzantine Empress of the Macedonian Dynasty