Jerusalem in the Byzantine Empire

Jerusalem has long held a prominent position in world history as a crossroads of faith, culture, and conflict. In the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 7th centuries AD, Jerusalem reached a new status as a major Christian pilgrimage site. Under Byzantine rule, the city transformed with the construction of monumental churches, including the famed Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Byzantines invested in Jerusalem as a spiritual and administrative hub, yet its significance also attracted military and political challenges. This article examines Jerusalem’s role within the Byzantine Empire, the development of Christian pilgrimage, a