The Greek-Speaking Christian Empire

Hagia Sophia, Holy Wisdom, is one of the greatest church buildings in history, built 1500 years ago in Constantinople, now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Christian, Greek-speaking Byzantine Empire kept the Ottoman Empire from Europe until Constantinople fell, 1453. After that, the Muslim armies threatened Europe. The Muslim distraction allowed the Lutheran Church to take root, but threatened Vienna Austria several times. They failed utterly in 1683, leaving behind sacks of coffee beans. A new fad started.