Transcript Constantinople is Awesome!

Byzantine Empire Unit
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We will be learning about the Byzantine Empire
in this next unit.
By the end of the unit, we will know:
Major events in Byzantine History
 Impact that the Byzantine Empire had on Eastern
Europe and Russia
 Key vocabulary
 Byzantine’s impact on the preservation of GrecoRoman culture.
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The Basics
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Byzantine Empire
forms from Eastern
Roman Empire.
Area is blend of
Roman, Greek, and
Christian culture.
(Greco-Roman)
Empire lasts from AD
330 to 1453.
This civilization impacts
Russia and Eastern
Europe.
Goals For Today
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Today we will:
Identify what the ancient city of Constantinople was
like by reading a quote about the city.
 Identify why the Capital city of the Roman Empire
was moved to the city of Constantinople.
 Analyze why Constantinople was such a successful
city.
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Quotation Activity
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“Now you may know that those who had never before
seen Constantinople looked upon it very earnestly, for they
never thought there could be in all the world so rich a city;
and they marked the high walls and strong towers that
enclosed it round about, and the rich palaces and mighty
churches – of which there were so many that no one
would have believed it who had not seen it with his eyes –
and the height and length of that city which above all
others was sovereign. And it be known to you, that no
man there was of such hardihood but his flesh trembled;
and it was no wonder, for never was so great an enterprise
undertaken by any people since the creation of the world.”
-Marzials’ G. De Villehardouin
The Roman Empire Moves East
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Constantine moves capital of Roman Empire to
Byzantium, renames it Constantinople
Why?
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Far from invasions (Huns)
Easier to defend on peninsula
Closer to wealth of trade routes along Aegean and Black
Seas.
Today’s Big Question:
“Why was Constantinople established as the
Eastern Roman Empire (or Byzantine Empire)?
Byzantine Empire
Constantinople
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The original Greek city on this site was Byzantium.
The location of Constantinople had many advantages.
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It was a waterway between great areas of trade in Europe and
Asia.
Its location allowed it to control land and water trade.
It has a good harbor that creates a safe haven for fishing
boats, merchants and warships
It is protected by water on 3 sides.
The 4th side is protected by a huge wall.
It protects the Eastern frontier
It is further away from Germany and it’s invaders.
Map of Constantinople
Constantinople cont…
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It took only FOUR years to build up Constantinople
from the smaller town of Byzantium.
The city was heavily influenced by Roman culture.
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It was located on several hills.
Its government buildings and palaces were molded after
those found in Rome.
Constantinople even had a building like the Circus Maximus
called the Hippodrome
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What did they do there?
Constantinople cont.
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The political and social life was also modeled
after Rome.
The Emperor operated under Roman laws.
 The army followed Roman military customs.
 The poor received bread and were entertained by
circuses and chariot races just like Rome.
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Where were the chariot races?
The family was the center of social life.
 Most families made their living by farming, herding
or working as laborers
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Citizens of Constantinople
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About 600,000 people lived in Constantinople
during Constantine’s rule.
Among them were Greeks, Turks, Italians, Slavs,
Persians, Armenians, and Jews
 They spoke Greek to each other and Latin for
official government business.
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Reflection
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Do you think Constantine was smart to move
the capital from Rome to Byzantium
(Constantinople)? Why yes or no?