Sharing continuity with the classical Roman Empire gave the Byzantine empire a technological and artistic advantage over its neighbors, whom Byzantines considered barbarians.

和历史悠久的罗马帝国共存的拜占庭帝国比它的邻国多了几分科技和艺术的优势，拜占庭人将邻国们看作野蛮人。

In fact, it wasn't until the Renaissance that the term “Byzantine Empire” was first used.

事实上，在文艺复兴时期“拜占庭帝国”的叫法才第一次出现。

But, of course, the Byzantine Empire didn't just rest on the laurels of Ancient Rome.

但当然，拜占庭帝国没有在罗马帝国的桂冠下止步不前。

Rome collapsed, but the Aksumite Empire or the Teotihuacans and of course the Byzantine Empire, carried on.

罗马帝国虽然崩溃了但阿克苏姆帝国，特奥蒂瓦坎文明，以及拜占庭帝国延续了下来。

This medieval Roman Empire, which we usually refer to today as the Byzantine Empire, began in 330 CE.

中世纪的罗马帝国，在今日又称为拜占庭帝国，于公元 300 年建立。

By 600AD the Western Roman Empire was gone leaving behind the eastern Empire also known as the Byzantine Empire.

600年时，西罗马帝国解体，剩下了东罗马帝国也就是拜占庭帝国。

For about a century and a half, Venice was part of the Byzantine empire.

大约一个半世纪以来，威尼斯一直是拜占庭帝国的一部分。

The last half of the 15th century saw the fall of the Byzantine Empire, or if you prefer; the eastern Roman Empire.

15世纪的下半叶见证了拜占庭帝国的瓦解，或者，如果大家愿意的话东罗马帝国的瓦解。

But the Byzantine empire collapsed in the 15th century, and Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque.

但是拜占庭帝国在15世纪崩溃了，圣索菲亚大教堂变成了一座清真寺。

This was once the main seat of Constantinople And was the most remarkable architectural achievement Of the Byzantine empire.

这里曾经是君士坦丁堡的主要所在地，也是拜占庭帝国最卓越的建筑成就。