Eastern or Byzantine Empire

Founded 395 on the death of Theodosius, and division of the Roman Empire between his sons. The e. portion, including Syria, Asia Minor, Pontus, Egypt, Thrace, Mœsia, Macedonia, Greece. and Crete, fell to Arcadius. His son Theodosius II. resigned the government to his sister Pulcheria. Marc i an us, her husband, repelled Attila. The Arian controversies disturbed the following reigns. Invasions of Goths were averted by various devices; against the Bulgarian raids, An as tas i us I., 491-518, built the Long Wall protecting Constantinople; he had wars with the Persians. The army next placed Just in us I. on the throne. His nephew, Just in i an, succeeded, 527-565; his name is a ociated with his code of laws, with the building of the great cathedral of St. Sophia, and with the victories of Belisarius and Narses. The empire declined after his death. The tyrannical Phocas was overthrown 610 by Heraclius, who succe fully opposed the Persians. The Arabs, led by Omar, now advanced on their conquering course, and the divided Greek power, weakened by religious quarrels, could offer little resistance. The dynasty of Heraclius expired with Just in i an II., 685-711. His succe ors were deposed, or abdicated, till Leo the I saurian, 717-41, who repelled the Arabs from Constantinople, and occasioned an outbreak of the Image Controversy. His dynasty ended with Const an tine VI., who died 797, after being blinded by his mother Irene. Rapid changes of dynasty ensued during which the Arabs gained ground. The Image Controversy was closed at the Council of Nicæa 842. The Maced on i an dynasty, 8671056, was founded by Basilius I. Arab and Bulgarian inroads increased, and the Ru ians appeared as a Basilius II., 976-1025, conquered the Bulgarians. Roman us hostile power. III. was a a inated by his wife Zoe, under whose three succeeding consorts, 1034-54, Ru ians and Arabs laid the empire waste, while the Turks advanced in Asia. Isaac I. founded