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Question: What was the relationship between the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire!?
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The Byzantine Empire was the eastern half of the Roman empire!. When Emperor Constantine moved the seat of power to Constantinople [now Istanbul] he abandoned Rome!. For a while there were two emperors of the Roman empire a western and and eastern one!.

We were taught in school that Rome fell in 467 AD that was the end of the Roman empire!. The Eastern empire [Byzantine] survived until the last emperor died in 1503 and the area came under the power of the Turks!.

The Byzantines did not call themselves that, they considered themselves Romans until they were finally absorbed in the 1500's!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Roman Empire was split by Diocletian into an Eastern and a Western Roman Empire which were governed by separate emperors!.

When we talk about the "Fall of the Roman Empire" it is in fact the Western Empire, but the Eastern Roman Empire continued!. The capital of the Eastern Empire was Byzantium and this is why it has since become known as the Byzantine Empire!.Www@QuestionHome@Com