Why was Constantinople the capital of the eastern roman empire?

Answer 1

Constantinople was located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and the many sea and overland trade routes linking east and west. Under the Byzantines, this location helped make the city, and some of its citizens, fabulouslt wealthy.

Answer 2

The Straits of Marmara connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea and separate Europe from Asia. They lie roughly in a SW to NE direction. The straits are narrow and one particular site on the European coast was settled as an ancient Greek colony called Byzantium. It was an excellent choice for a port, with a deep and easily defended harbor.

After Constantine I won his civil war to become Emperor, he knew that Rome was a decaying city. The cities of the East were far richer and partly in order to be closer to this richer source of revenue he built a new splendid capital named after himself, Constantinople.

But it wouldn't have thrived if it hadn't meant something to the people. After Constantine I declared official state toleration for Christianity (declaring it the only state religion came later), Constantinople became the premiere Christian city, and that caused a tremendous boom in church spending on new cathedrals, etc. Also due to its excellent harbor and skilfully built defensive walls the city was impregnable until cannon finally brought it down in 1453.

It was located in an easily defendable location and was situated on many important trade routes.

Answer 3

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.

Answer 4

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Answer 5

Emperor Constantine the Great moved the capital of the Byzantine/Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople around 330 AD. He felt that Rome was an unsatisfactory capital. Rome was too far from the frontiers. Rome could no longer serve as the center of defense for the Byzantine Empire's widely spread frontiers. Constantinople provided easy trade and military access to the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Danube River, Dnieper River, and the land route to Turkestan and India.

Answer 6

Ancient historians did not It actually clarified why Constantine the Great moved the capital of the eastern part of the Roman empire from Nicomedia (in north-western Turkey) to the nearby Byzantium. One reason might have been that Nicomedia had been designated as the capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire by the emperor Diocletian who had unleashed the Great Persecution of Christians. A highly likely reason was Propaganda, which Constantine was very good at. He even invented a fictitious decent from the family of a previous emperor. A new capital named after himself would give him further prestige and act as a symbol of the new dawn for the empire his rule would usher in. Constantine redeveloped the Greek city of Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople (which means the city of Constantine) in 330. The city was also given titles such as "The New, second Rome,' 'Eastern Rome,' 'Alma Roma,' and 'Roma Constantinopolitana.'

Originally Constantine considered Sirmium (in modern day Serbia) for his new capital. Then he opted for Byzantium. This city was on the route between Europe and Asia like Nicomedia, but it was in a better strategic position. It was on the Bosporus, the strait between Europe and Asia and between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Therefore, it controlled the naval route between these two seas. It was also a city easy to defend. It was on a promontory into the Bosporus. Therefore, it had water on two sides. The Golden Horn, an inlet of the Bosporus meant that there was water on the third side as well.

Another important factor was that Byzantium has seven hills like Rome. This created a similarity with Rome and justified the tiles mentioned above.

Constantine supported the Christians. He promoted Christians to high offices in the imperial administration. He built the first Christian churches, most notably, the original Basilica of St Peter's in Rome, the St John Lateran's Basilica (the city of Rome's first Cathedral and the original residence of the Popes), the Church of the Holy Apostles and the Hagia Eirene in Constantinople and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem. He arbitrated disputes between rival Christian doctrines.

Answer 7

Emperor Constantine the Great moved the capital of the Byzantine/Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople around 330 AD. He felt that Rome was an unsatisfactory capital. Rome was too far from the frontiers. Constantinople provided easy trade and military access to the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Danube River, Dnieper River, and the land route to Turkestan and India.

Answer 8

Constantinople was ideally located to be the capital of the Byzantine empire because it controlled the routes between Europe and Asia both by land and by sea. These routes were not only trade routes, but they could be used for military routes a well.

Answer 9

its location made it the crossroads of Europe and Asia

Answer 10

Constantinople was ideally located to be a capitol because it controlled both the sea routs between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land routes between Europe and Asia.