The Byzantine Empire was founded in 330 CE by Roman Emperor Constatine I (also known as Constantine the Great). Constantine had chosen the city of Byzantium to be established as the new capital of the Roman Empire. So, Constantine had Byzantium re-built and when construction of the re-built city had concluded, he named the great city New Rome. Eventually, the name was changed to Constantinople named after Constantine the Great. Constantinople (now modern Istanbul, Turkey) remained the capital of the Byzantine Empire for almost 1,000 years until it's eventual demise.

The Image to the left is the Head of the Colossus of Constantine.

In 395 CE, the Roman Empire was divided into two separate empires. The Eastern and Western Roman Empires. The Eastern Roman Empire converted into the now known great Byzantine Empire. At the time of the division the emperor of the Byzantine Empire was Arcadius son of Theodosius I. The Byzantine Empire advanced for generations meanwhile; the Western Roman Empire eventually fell in 476 CE. One main reason that the Byzantine Empire was able to strive was because the introduction of the solidus. A solidus was a gold coin that was used as the currency of the Byzantine Empire during its whole reign. A great economy is what allows an Empire to gain its strength. Unfortunately for the Western Roman Empire their economy struggled which was a main reason for their demise.

The image to the right is a solidus gold coin.