Byzantium Empire

The empire was started by the split of Rome.
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/totalwar/images/6/65/TW_Attila_Constantinople.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150918133635 (Link to picture)

Constaninople fell into ruins after fire burned through the city. (link to image) https://static.pexels.com/photos/1749/fire-orange-emergency-burning.jpg

Justinian ruled:
He slaughtered many people but, he also fixed many things in the city. One major thing he build was the Hippodrome (Link to picture) http://www.majesticistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Hippodrome-of-Constantinople-during-the-chariot-races.jpg

Out of the thousands of people Justinian murdered he new he had to make it up to the people so, he started to rebuild public works. He wanted to leave his legacies big and he did by creating one of the most praised churches in that time period and now a days a very sacred mosque. (Link to picture) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Hagia_Sophia_Mars_2013.jpg

Justinian was revolted against by 30,000 people in the hippodrome and to solve the revolt he murdered every one. (Link to picture) http://www.helleniccomserve.com/images/tourkpart3pic1.jpg

Lombards invade Italy, eventually taking Northern Italy from the Byzantines.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Italy_looking_like_the_flag.svg/2000px-Italy_looking_like_the_flag.svg.png

Loss of North Africa to Muslims.

The church banned all use of icons in the house hold. In 843 the ban was finally lifted.
http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/sites/default/files/imagecache/300_pixels_wide/Iconoclasm.jpg

Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the pope which upset the byzantine people. He later feel giving the crown to the rightful ruler their empress.
https://www.google.com/search?q=rome&rlz=1CALEAC_enUS709US709&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigqK-849jPAhWBdz4KHZkoA1gQ_AUICigD&biw=1366&bih=636&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=T-JggMKwn7pzaM%3A

Pope Leo IX excommunicated Constantinople.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/B_Gregor_IX2.jpg/220px-B_Gregor_IX2.jpg