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Istanbul and Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine (Roman) Empire and, in the Middle Ages, the largest and wealthiest city in Europe. In 1930, Constantinople was changed to its modern day name of Istanbul. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey. It was known by a few names for several centuries. The main secondary name being, Constantinople. In 1923, the Turkish government decided it was best for the city to only go by one name, and Istanbul was chosen. Istanbul is home to the world famous cathedral, the Hagia Sophia.
884 Questions
Why did Constantine move the capital to Constantinople?
Constantinople was not the capital of the whole empire. It was the capital of the eastern part of the empire. Emperor Diocletian had co-ruled the Empire with co-co-emperor Maximian, the former taking the east the letter the west, to improve the defence of the vast frontiers of the empire. Milan was turned into the capital of the west and Nicomedia (in northwestern Turkey) into the capital of the east. Both were closer to the frontiers than Rome, which became the nominal capital of the whole empire.
Constantine decided to move the capital of the east from Nicomedia because:
-- Nicomedia was where Diocletian had unleashed the Great Christian Persecution. It would be easier to promote Christianity from a new capital and build churches there.
-- Personal glory was an important factor. Constantine had become sole emperor after defeating his rival co-emperors Maxentius and Licinius in civil wars. A new capital helped with his Propaganda that his rule would usher a new dawn. He was good at propaganda. He even invented an ancestry from an earlier emperor. Constantine made a big deal out of Constantinople. It was given honorary titles such as second Rome, Roma Constantinopolitana, the Eastern Rome, and Alma Roma. .
Constantine considered a number of cities and then chose Constantinople because:
-- Its location was easy to defend.
-- It had seven hills. Constantine could use this to say he modelled the city on Rome, which had seven hills. This helped his propaganda and claim that his city was a new and invigorated Rome.
-- It controlled the passage between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, which was useful for both defence and trade.
-- It had a large harbour which, due to low tides, was always accessible.
-- It was closer to the frontier along the River Danube in Europe than Nicomedia, However, the distance between Constantinople and Nicomedia was only 116 kilometres/73 miles. Constantiople was in the Eurpean side of the straight which divides Euorope from Asia.
Sometimes, it is mentioned that Constantinople had the advantage of being on the Europe-Asia route. However, it has to be noted that nearby Nicomedia was also on this route.
How might history have been different if the Turks had not captured the constantinople in 1453?
Look,there are many different opinions.I will try to explain you as better as i can.If the Ottoman attack on 29 of May had failed the other Christian countries would probably begin a crusade against the Ottomans.But maybe not.Many chistian countries had their own problems.But you should think this:the only part of the Byzantine Empire that had left was Constantinople.So even if the city had never fallen,the Byzantine Empire had already been destroyed.The only good thing in this would be that the Ottoman army would have suffered great loses so it would be impossible for the next few years to begin a campaign.
I think that Byzantine Empire's fate had been sealed sicne the end of the Macedonian Dynasty.
What new city was founded by Constantine the great?
Roman Emperor Constantine founded Constantinople, which is current day Istanbul, and it became a major part of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Why did the British empire want to capture Istanbul?
Because Istanbul has one of the most strategic location on map. It placed both Europa and Asia separated with Bosphorus. It is the closest point of 3 old-world continents Asia Europa and Africa.
Catal Huyuk
How did moving capital from Rome to Constantinople weaken the eastern part of the empire?
Moving the capital from Rome to Constantinople strengthened the eastern part of the empire. 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.
Who was the emperor responsible for a surge in construction in Constantinople?
The emperor responsible was Constantine
Where did many of the Greek scholars leaving Constantinople end up?
Italy! It hepled start the Renaissance.
Are Istanbul and Ankara part of the same country?
Yes, both cities are in the country of Turkey. Admittedly, like most countries that have two prominent cities (NY and LA in the USA, Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo in Brazil, etc.) there is a strong sentiment among both Istanbul and Ankara residents that they live in worlds apart, but this is more of a cultural issue than a geographic one.
What are the four titles of Constantinople?
My text book says they are...
1. Constantine's City
2. Constantine City
3. New Jerusalem
4. Queen of the Mediterranean
I Know that 1&2 are pretty much the same but thats what it says (:
What year did the Italians rule the Constantinople?
Control of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire did not occur until 1453. Before that time, Constantinople was controlled by the Byzantine Empire (the Eastern Roman Empire) of Europe. Constantinople rose to prominence in the 6th century A.D. and thereafter, after becoming the seat of the Roman Empire (ever since the fall of Rome in 476 A.D.
What is the significance of Catal Huyuk a Neolithic city found in modern day Turkey?
Çatal Hüyuk was one of the earliest farming settlements ever found. It is the largest and best-preserved Neolithic site found to date, making it a great way to study society in the Neolithic period.
God, wrote the original bible, which created judaism, but when Jesus came, he made his own group of followers called "Christians"
Jesus of Nazareth was the prophet who preached most of the philosophies behind Christianity. However, after his death, many of his followers believed that their they should only preach Jesus' teachings to Jews. However, Christianity was greatly expanded thanks in large part to Roman soldier Paul of Tarsus, who believed that they should spread the word of God to everyone, including people who were not Jews, or Gentiles.
The Byzantine Empire did not recover from the fall of Constantinople to the Turks because the Turks were a strong local power which captured all of the remaining byzantine territory. Whereas the 4th Crusaders were few in number after they divided up the empire and they only captured part of the Byzantine Empire, the remainder of the Empire split into independent Byzantine powers, one of which the Empire of Nicaea eventually recaptured Constantinople and restored the Byzantine Empire.
What was the official Religion of Constantinople and The Byzantine Empire?
It was the Orthodox Church, or The Eastern Orthodox Church.
