What Was Constantinople?
The city of Constantinople is an ancient city that exists todayin modern Turkeyas Istanbul. First settled in the seventh century B.C. by ancient Greeks as Byzantium (or Byzantion), the city grewinto a thriving port thanks to its prime geographic location between Europe and Asia, and the city's natural harbor.
It switched hands betweenPersians, Athenians,Spartans, Macedonians and Romans until itwas destroyed in 196 B.C. The city was rebuilt, and later in 330 C.E. the rebuilt city became the site of Roman Emperor Constantine’s “New Rome,” a Christian city of immense wealth and magnificent architecture. Strong walls and new buildings marked the start of the new capital of the Roman Empire, and afterwardsConstantinople stood as the seat of the Byzantine Empire (or the Eastern Roman Empire)for the next 1,100 years, surviving the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
The city's location and imperial patronage saw its status rise to new heights, becoming known around the worldby multiple names such as theQueen of Cities. Famous for its seemingly impregnable sets of walls and defenses, architecture, culture, and economic might, it would be governed by Roman law, observeChristianityand adopt 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. Continue reading fromHistory
