The Byzantine Empire was a Christian state, with the Eastern Orthodox Church being the dominant religion.

The Sassanid Empire was the Byzantine Empire's main rival in the East, with the two empires frequently engaging in wars and conflicts.

Constantinople was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire, located on the Bosphorus Strait.

Justinian I is known for codifying Roman law, resulting in the creation of the Corpus Juris Civilis, a collection of legal texts that had a profound impact on legal systems in Europe.

The Byzantine Empire's currency was called the nomisma, also known as the solidus, which was a gold coin.

Basil II is known for his extensive military conquests, earning him the epithet 'Bulgar Slayer' for his victories against the Bulgarians.

The Byzantine Empire's administrative division was called a theme, which was a military and administrative unit.

Leo III the Isaurian is known for his iconoclasm, a policy of destroying religious images and icons.

The Byzantine Empire's law code was called the Corpus Juris Civilis, which was compiled under Justinian I.

Nikephoros II Phokas is known for his reforms of the Byzantine military, which included the creation of a professional army.

The Byzantine Empire's secret police was called the Vigiles, which was responsible for maintaining order and security in Constantinople.

Theophilus is known for his patronage of the arts and sciences, supporting the construction of churches and monasteries and promoting education.

The Byzantine Empire's main trade route was the Via Egnatia, which connected Constantinople with the Adriatic Sea.

Nikephoros II Phokas is known for his reconquest of Crete from the Arabs in 961.

Constantine XI Palaiologos was the last emperor of the Byzantine Empire, reigning from 1449 until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.