Where did the eastern orthodox church develop?

The Eastern Orthodox Church developed in the Eastern Roman Empire, particularly in regions surrounding the Mediterranean, such as Greece, the Balkans, and parts of the Middle East. Its roots trace back to the early Christian communities established by the apostles, with significant growth occurring after the Edict of Milan in 313 AD. The church became distinct from Western Christianity following the Great Schism of 1054, which formalized the division between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.