What was strategic about constantinoples location?

Answer 1

At the beginning Constantinople's location presented more disadvantages than advantages. it was remote form the main naval routes in the Mediterranean, which were further south. There were northerly winds which hampered ships sailing to the city and it was far from water supplies.

As the city grew in stature as an imperial capital and especially with the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire, the loss of Egypt and the Levant to the Arabs and with an increase in trade with Russia Constantinople, did present strategic advantages. 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 and the Europe-Asia land route. The city also had defensive advantages. It was on a promontory into the Bosporus. Therefore, it had water on three sides. The hilly terrain helped to defend the part of the city which was not on the seafront. The Golden Horn, an inlet of the Bosporus on the northern side of the promontory, provided a coast which went deeper inland, thus creating a very good harbour. However, when Constantinople came under close attacks one of its main weaknesses was highlighted. Although it walls were impregnable, besieging enemies could cut of the water supply, which was served by a 250 km of aqueducts which extended to water sources far from the city.