How did Constantinople possessed great military and economic advantages due to what?

Answer 1

Part of Constantinople's economic and military advantages were derived from the fact that it was the capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire, which existed for nearly 1,000 years after the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire. This meant that Constantinople grew into a very large city and as a place where many of the economic and military resources of this empire were concentrated. Cosntantinople was also on the Bosporus, a strait which separates Europe and Asia and connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, it controlled the land route from Europe to Asia and the naval route from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

Constantinople was also in an easy to defend position. It was on a promontory into the Bosporus, which meant that it had water around three of its four sides. The development of land fortifications was made easier by the fact that the city was in a hilly area. On the northern side there was also a water inlet, the Golden Horn, which provided an excellent harbour. This arbour was defended by placing an underwater chain at its entrance.