Why was Constantinople's geographical location an advantage?

Answer 1

It was located on a peninsula so it was a difficult place to attack. It also was located between major land and sea trade routes so the city prospered.

Answer 2

First of all, Constantinople was in a natural cross road for land and sea trade routes. Second, Constantinople was on a peninsula, so it was very easy to defend. Finally, Constantinople had a secret weapon in Greek fire, which could burn on water. Since Constantinople was surrounded by water on three sides Greek fire was invaluable in sea battles.

Answer 3

Constantinople is located where the Bosphorus Strait meets the Mediterranean Sea. The Bosphorus connects the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and separates southeastern Europe from southwestern Asia. Constantinople was founded on a peninsula on the west bank of the Bosphorus' southern end.

The cheapest way to move cargo is often by sea, particularly if the sea is relatively calm during the summer as is the Mediterranean. Therefore, anything going from southern Europe or North Africa to the cities and nations surrounding the Black Sea was most reliably sent over a maritime route that followed the Bosphorus Strait, passing Constantinople. While the Sea of Marmara separates the wider Mediterranean from Istanbul, Istanbul is on a particularly narrow section of the Strait.

Some cargo is best moved by land, either by its nature or because the distance it must move is shorter. The overland trade routes known as the Silk Road ended in Asia Minor, and the most convenient route from Asia Minor to inland Europe north or east of the Alps crosses the Bosphorus; the easiest crossing is to be had at Istanbul.

It was also reasonably central to the eastern half of the Roman Empire, so that when the decision was made to split that empire in two, it made an excellent site for the new capital. Emperor Constantine thus renamed Byzantium Constantinople, a name it retained through the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

Answer 4

Constantine founded Constantinople at the former Byzantium because it was a prime location to build a city. First and foremost, it provided excellent access to waterways via the Mediterranean Sea, which allowed Constantinople to be a center of commerce. Also, it was at the crossroads of Europe and Asia; if you wanted to cross the continent by land, going through Constantinople was the best way. In addition to being a center of trade, Constantinople was incredibly defensible. It was covered by land on three sides, and Constantine built walls around the city to keep invaders out.

Answer 5

Constantinople was a good location because it was built on top of a hill so it was visible from the sea to sailors but was easy to defend from foreign invaders.Constantinople was also a good location because it was connected to Eastern and Western trading so many goods came from Europe and Asia.Constantinople was also a good location because it was surrounded by three sides of water and only its western border was excessible by land so a massive wall built along this border the city practically impregnable.

Answer 6

Constantinople or Byzantium was a good location because it controlled both the land and sea routs between Europe and Asia.

Answer 7

These coordinates will locate it for you on a map:

1. 41° 0′ 44.06″ N, 28° 58′ 33.67″ E
2. 41.01224, 28.976018