Byzantine Architecture Info

While the West favored long basilicas, the East shifted toward rounder, Greek cross plans ( shape) that emphasized a central vertical axis.

Exteriors were often simple brickwork, but interiors featured walls clad in marble and ceilings covered in shimmering gold and glass mosaics. byzantine architecture

About Byzantine Architecture and the Rise of Christianity - ThoughtCo While the West favored long basilicas, the East

Byzantine architecture flourished between 330 and 1453 AD, evolving from Roman traditions into a distinct style defined by massive domes and ornate interiors. Centered in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul ), it bridged Western and Middle Eastern techniques to create some of the world's most iconic religious structures. While the West favored long basilicas

Architects developed the pendentive —a triangular structural solution—to support large, heavy domes atop square bases.