Istanbul - Byzantium's rise and fall

Byzantium's rise and fall

Byzantium's rise and fall

Today's Istanbul has been once founded as the Greek colony Byzantium. This colony gained more and more importance and became one of the most important trade centre in these times. Of course one of the main factors for this rise was the colonies unique location close to the Bosporus. The narrows was used to deliver corn from the Ukraine to Athena and other Greek settlements. Byzantium is said to be located in the past in the districted were nowadays the Topkapi-Palace can be visited. However, due to this unique strategically location no war passed Byzantium.

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With its new position in the game of hazard and power it became the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and its name was changed into Constantinople by the Emperor Constatine I. Constantinople, meaning city of Constantine , was ceremonially dedicated 11th may 330 as the capital of the Nova Roma. The colony was more and more enlarged and as its antetype Rome raised on 7 hills. But also political and cultural institutions were adapted as was the Hippodrome , Capitol or the Forum Constantini as analogue to the Forum Romanum. It was said that as long as Byzantium stands the Byzantine Empire stands. Besides, this Byzantium was the center of the church. The infrastructure of Constantinople had to be improved as it was no more able to deal with the increased population, therefore new harbours were introduced, aquaducts for the drinking water supply were constructed and subterranean cisterns were built to store the water. There was a real building boom in the 4-6 th century, many palaces and churches arose, as for example the reconstruction of the famouse Hagia Sophia.

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Many attacks to the city were put down as for example the attacks by the Persians ,Avars and Arabs. In the 9th century attacks by the Bulgarian, Rus and Petschenegean followed. In the 11th century even the former ally of Constantinople Venice attacked the trade centre due to infightings concerning the throne by sending a crusader army. Alexios III left his throne and was replaced by Isaak II. The soldiers of the crusade stayed in Constantinople. Shortly after Isaak II and his son Alexios IV died and Alexios V took the throne. He ordered that the soldiers of the crusade should leave the city, they became angry and organized a putsch. Unfortunately they succeeded a killed a lot of inhabitants, plundered and destroyed many monuments and artworks. A lot of religious relics were lost. The Venetian crusaders separated the Byzantine territory and the empire lost more and more its power.

Byzantium's rise and fall by istanbul turkey.co.uk