Eastern Roman Empire

The Eastern Roman Empire, also known as Byzantium by those who couldn’t be bothered to pronounce its real name, was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the east.

The Eastern Roman Empire was founded in 324 AD by Constantine the Great, who decided that the east side of the empire was better than the west side, just like that one member of every friend group who always thinks they’re better than everyone else.

For centuries, the Eastern Roman Empire was a powerhouse, standing against invasions from barbarians, Persians, and even the occasional zombie horde. And let’s not forget about the iconic Justinian I, who managed to make his empire look like a baller with the construction of the Hagia Sophia.

But alas, the Eastern Roman Empire eventually fell, because nothing lasts forever, not even the Kardashians’ fame. In 1453, the Ottoman Empire finally (and quite easily) conquered Constantinople, bringing an end to the Eastern Roman Empire.

Today, the Eastern Roman Empire lives on in history textbooks and multi-cultural cuisine,but be warned: saying “Byzantine” instead of “Eastern Roman” around any self-respecting historian will result in a lecture that will make you wish you never liked history in the first place.