Constantinople: Byzantine Empire's Capital

• Constantinople, now Istanbul, was the Byzantine Empire's capital and a historically significant city.
• Its geographic location, surrounded on three sides by water, made it a unique trade hub.

History of Constantinople

• Constantinople was a vital city in the Roman Empire.
• It was later named after Emperor Constantine I, the first Byzantine emperor.
• Founded in 330 A.D., previously known as Byzantium, it served as the center of the Byzantine Empire, the Roman Empire's eastern part.
• Its location between Asia and Europe and its large port on three sides boosted commerce and defense.
• Byzantium was a trade center between Asia and Europe, influenced by events from both regions.
• Early Byzantium accepted people from diverse backgrounds, with social mobility attainable by converting names to Greek.
• Over time, racial, class, and ethnic differences caused internal conflict.

Establishment of Constantinople

• Constantinople was a conflict center between Athens and Sparta for resource control.
• Septimus Severus rebuilt it in 192 C.E. after destroying it, incorporating it into the Roman Empire.
• Diocletian divided the Roman Empire into four parts at the end of the second century C.E. and took control of Byzantium.
• Emperor Constantine I, or Constantine the Great, founded Constantinople, initially calling it New Rome.
• In 324 C.E., he moved his seat of power there after reuniting the Roman Empire.
• Constantine built strong defenses, including a harbor chain against naval invasions and walls against land forces.
• He increased the population by providing drinking water via a large aqueduct and food, aiming to spread the New Rome lifestyle to civilize the Eastern Romans whom he considered barbarians.

Why Was Constantinople Called New Rome?

• Constantine initially named it Nova Roma, or New Rome, to link himself to the Roman Empire's power.
• The Byzantine Empire began when Constantine moved to New Rome due to:
  • Reduced corruption
  • Proximity to the Persians for defense, invasion, and subjugation
  • Ability to house a large population without overcrowding
• He established a bureaucracy with regional magistrates and administrative officersHierarchical administrative officers that report to him.
• This bureaucracy controlled civil matters, but the emperor retained military decision-making.
• Constantinople established dynastic traditions and family inheritance of responsibilities.
• Byzantine children were restricted to farming, while bureaucratic offices and the position of emperor passed down regardless of competence.

The Founding of the Byzantine Empire

• Constantinople became the center of Christianity.
• Emperor Constantine authorized it as the official religion of the New Roman Empire.
• He made himself head of the Catholic Church, entrenching Roman Imperial authority, a factor in the Catholic Church's dissolution and weakening the Byzantine Empire.
• The Byzantine Emperor lost control of the Western territories of the New Roman Empire.
• Constantinople thrived until the Ottoman Turks destroyed it in 1453.
• The Fourth Crusade in 1204 and the Black Death of the 1340s facilitated the Ottoman's success.

The Center of the Byzantine Empire

• As the Byzantine Empire's center, Constantinople possessed vast wealth and allowed the emperor to lead the Eastern territories from a central location.
• It was a site of significant architectural and cultural achievements.

Constantinople Trade

• Constantinople was on the Silk Road, a trade hub between Europe and Asia.
• Its defensibility made it a popular destination for traders, leading to vast wealth accumulation.
• Citizens traded with those they considered barbarians.
• Constantinople supplied silk to countries like Egypt and China.
• Other goods included pottery, linen, crops, and precious metals.
• Although trade brought prosperity to the empire, traders were not highly regarded.

Constantinople Architecture

• Hagia Sophia: Commissioned by Justinian, designed as the largest basilica in the Byzantine Empire, using revolutionary architectural techniques.
• The Ottoman Turks converted it into a mosque due to its impressive structure.
• Hippodrome: Built by Septimus Severus after destroying Byzantium, it was used for chariot racing and public events.
• It was the largest arena globally, holding over sixty thousand people.
• Column of Constantine: A monument to Constantine and the foundation of Constantinople.
• It was transformed into a monument to the power of God after Constantine's death.
• Different powers saw the column as a symbol of their dominance.

Constantinople, now Istanbul, was the Byzantine Empire's capital. Its unique location made it a trade hub. Founded in 330 A.D. by Emperor Constantine I, it connected Asia and Europe, boosting commerce and defense.