Byzantine Empire

In this Unit, kids take a thousand-year tour of the empire beginning with the fall of Rome in 476 CE and concluding with the fall of the empire in 1453 CE. En route, they stop in Constantinople to explore the biggest and richest city in Europe at the time. There, they find a bust of Constantine, the emperor essential to the early growth and spread of Christianity. They examine the Justinian Code, an organized set of Roman laws, which influenced the legal system in many countries. And they visit the market to find goods from Europe, China, India, and beyond.

Kids eager to explore life in the Middle Ages will find lots of details about the people of Constantinople. Kids interested in the rise and fall of power and governments will want to trace the main events taking place during this period and refer to the timeline of major events throughout the period. A group of detailed maps helps clarify information and will intrigue kids who enjoy geography. Plus, loads of primary source images provide kids with a feel for the period that couldn’t be more authentic.