The center of the Byzantine Empire was Constantinople.
Istanbul is an ancient city in modern-day Turkey.Constantinople was first settled in the seventh century B.C. and developed into a thriving port thanks to its prime geographic location between Europe and Asia.In 330 A.D., it became the site of New Rome, a Christian city of immense wealth and magnificent architecture.Constantinople, the seat of the Byzantine Empire for the next 1,100 years, was overrun by the Ottoman Empire in 1403.
Byzas from the ancient Greek city of Megara founded a settlement on the western side of the Strait of Bosporus to connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.Byzantium grew into a thriving port city thanks to the pristine natural harbor created by the Golden Horn.
As they jockeyed for power in the region, the Persian, Athenian, Spartans, and Macedonians all controlled Byzantium.The city was destroyed by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus around 196 A.C., but was rebuilt with some of the structures that survived into the Byzantine Empire.
Constantine I established a new capital at Byzantium called New Rome after defeating Licinius to become the sole emperor of the Roman Empire.
The territory of old Byzantium was divided into 14 sections and a new outer wall was built by Constantine.He gave land and transferred art from Rome to display in the new capital.There were statues of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Constantine as well as one of Apollo.
The emperor wanted to provide residents with free food.With a system of aqueducts already in place, he ensured access to water through the widening city by the construction of the Binbirdirek Cistern.
Constantinople, established in 330 A.D. by Constantine, would become known as the Queen of Cities, as well as Stamboul, Istinpolin, and Istanbul.It would be governed by Roman law, observe Christianity and use Greek as its primary language, although it would serve as a melting pot of races and cultures due to its unique geographic location straddling Europe and Asia.
Early in his reign, Justinian I weathered the Nika Revolt and undertook extensive renovations of the city.He launched successful military campaigns that helped the Byzantines regain territories lost with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.
The Justinian Code would serve as a template for civilizations to come, as it established a uniform system of law.
Along with spurring the spread of iconoclasm in the Empire, Leo III fought off an Arab siege of the city and was able to reestablish the throne after years of upheaval.He was the first emperor of the Isurian dynasty.
The two-century-long Macedonian dynasty was launched by Basil I, who ruled from 867 to 886 A.D.He succeeded in pushing the empire's borders south despite his illiteracy, despite undertaking renovations and attempting further codification of laws.
Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantines for more than 1,100 years.The new perimeter stretched from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn.
The inner layer of the double set of walls was 40 feet high and studded with towers that reached another 20 feet.
The Hippodrome was an arena for chariot races and other public events and was expanded by Constantine in the third century.It is estimated to have seated up to 100,000 people.
The Hagia Sophia was a triumph of architectural design.It took less than six years for it to be completed by a workforce of 10,000 workers.
Four columns supported a massive dome with a diameter of more than 100 feet, while its polished marble and dazzling mosaics gave the Hagia Sophia the impression of always being brightly lit.
The Imperial Palace, which was located in the center of the city, had an elaborate display of mosaics, as well as a grand entrance known as the Chalke Gate.
Christianity wasn't established as the state religion until after Theodosius I ascended to power, after Constantine's founding of New Rome.The first council of Constantinople was convened in 381 and it supported the Council of Nicaea of 325.
Constantinople became the center of the iconoclast controversy after Leo III banned the worshiping of religious icons.iconoclasm resumed as a rule of law less than 30 years after the council reversed the decision.
Even after the Muslim Ottoman Empire took control of Constantinople in the 15th century, it remained the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Constantinople, the Byzantine capital, was besieged at least a dozen times over the course of 1,000 years.There were attempts by Arab armies in the seventh and eighth centuries.
The armies of the Crusades were diverted to Constantinople in the early 13th century due to a power struggle.They established a Latin state after their promised payments fell through.
Constantinople was the sole major population center of the empire after the Byzantines reclaimed control.
Plans for a major assault on Constantinople were formulated by Mehmed II after he ascended to the Ottoman throne.He succeeded in claiming Constantinople for Muslim rule because of the size of his armed forces and the use of gunpowder.
Mehmed II spared the church of the Holy Apostles and allowed a diverse population to remain when Constantinople was ruled by the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottomans had a ruler who ruled from 1520 to 1566.Along with developing a series of public works, Suleyman transformed the judicial system, championed the arts and continued to expand the empire.
The Ottoman state underwent major changes in the 19th century with the implementation of the Tanzimat Reforms, which guaranteed property rights and outlawed execution without a trial.
The Ottoman Empire was wiped out early in the century by the Balkans, World War I and the Greco-Turkish War.
The Republic of Turkey was established by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.Old Constantinople officially adopted the name Istanbul in 1930.
Constantinople and Istanbul.The Simpson Center for the Humanities is located at the University of Washington.Constantinople.The Encyclopedia of Ancient History.The age of Suleyman was magnificent.The National Gallery of Art is in Washington.Constantinople is the City of the World.The Washington Post.The church of Constantinople.The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is located in the United States.
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