Decline of the Empire
The Byzantine Empire lasted 1100 years.
It was the riched and most beautiful city in Europe.
Its people were the most educated.
They preserved Greek culture and Roman law.
They spread Christianity.
It helped spread the growth of trade.
It gave the world new techniques in fine arts.

Farmers and Land
Early emperors depended on farmers to make up the army.
Farmers were given land.
By the 1100s, soldiers were not needed because their borders were safe.
The emperor changed the policy and took the farmers' land away.
Once they lost their land, the farmers had no reason to remainloyal to the empire.

Trade
1080, Vikings conquer land in the southern part of the empire.
They threaten to attack Constantinople.
There were not enough soldiers to defend the city.
Emperor tirned to Venice for help.
The Venetians defeated the Vikings.
The Emperor gave venice tax-free status in all of the empire's cities.
Soon, Venetian ships and merchants controlled the trade.
The empire suffered a great loss of income.

Attack on the Empire
Christians from the West attack.
Muslims from the East attack.
Asia Minor was lost.
The empire lost their supply of food, materials, and soldiers.
Eventually the Byzantine Empire was only a small area around Constantinople.

End of the Empire
The population dropped to less than 100,000 people.
Docks and marketplaces were empty.
The Emperor was poor.
1453, Turkish armies with guns attack Constantinople and conquer the Byzantines.