Constantinople: Rome's Rival Metropolis

1. Document 1: When he had settled his empire, and had freed himself from foreign foes, he resolved on founding a city which should be called by his own name, and should equal in fame even Rome. In obedience to the command of God, he therefore chose to enlarge the city formerly called Byzantium, and here he laid out the plan of a large and beautiful city, and built gates on a high spot of ground, whence they are still visible from the sea to sailors and easy to defend from foreign invaders. He then surrounded it with high walls; likewise he built splendid dwelling houses; and he summoned families from all over the empire and from other countries to come populate his new city. Source: “Constantine Founds Constantinople, 324 CE,” Sozomen, c. 450 CE

2. Document 2:

3. Document 3: The city is enormous in size, and in two parts separated by a great river. The part of the city on the eastern bank of the river contains the residence of the Emperor, the nobles and the rest of the population. Its marketplaces and streets are spacious and paved. The city lies at the foot of a hill which projects about nine miles into the sea. On the top of the hill there is a small citadel and the Emperor's palace. Round this hill runs the city-wall, which is very strong and cannot be taken by assault from the sea front. Within its walls there are about thirteen inhabited villages. The second part, on the western bank of the river is reserved to the western European Christians who dwell there. They are of different kinds, including Genoese, Venetians, Romans [other Italians?] and people of France; they are subject to the authority of the king of Constantinople. They are bound to pay a tax every year to the king of Constantinople, but often they revolt against him and he makes war on them. They are all men of commerce and their harbor is one of the largest in the world; I saw there about a hundred galleys [sailing ships] and other large ships, and the small ships were too many to be counted. The marketplaces in this part of the town are good but filthy, and a small and very dirty river runs through them. Their churches too are filthy and mean. Source: “Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354,” Ibn Battuta

4. Document 4: In its heyday, Constantinople was the richest and largest European city, exerting a powerful cultural pull and dominating economic life in the Mediterranean. This was due to its strategic position commanding the trade routes between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea. Any traders in the area would be drawn to Constantinople and its great marketplaces. The Byzantine emperors, knowing this, uniformly taxed imports and exports at ten percent. Taxes could be paid with coinage, but also with luxury goods such as silk and precious metals. The Byzantines also regularly charged tolls for using its roads and waterways. It used a powerful Navy control the Boshporous straits, the Black Sea, and parts of the Mediterranean Sea. It was through control of trade that Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire became a prosperous society. Source: “The Byzantine Economy,” Cecile Morrisson, Cambrige University Press, 2007

5. Document 5: Constantinople Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium and renamed the city Constantinople. The new capital thrived. By the a.d.500s, multicultural Constantinople had become one of the world's most advanced cities. Constantinople's location was a major factor in the city's success. Located on a peninsula between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, the city's excellent harbors attracted fishing boats, trading ships, and warships. Because of its location at the crossroads of trade routes between Europe and Asia, Constantinople became the wealthiest part of the Roman Empire. Constantinople was also easy to defend. Lying on a peninsula, the city was protected on three sides by the sea, and a large wall protected it on the fourth side. Later, a huge chain was strung across the city's harbor for greater protection. Surprise attacks were not easily carried out on Constantinople. Source: Discovering Our Past: A History of the World—Modern Times, Mc-Graw Hill Education, 2014

6. Document 6: What Cultural Influences Shaped the Byzantines? Constantinople at first resembled other cities in the Roman Empire. The "New Rome," as it was called, had government buildings and palaces built in the Roman style. The city also had an oval arena called the Hippodrome, where chariot races and other events were held. Rome influenced the political and social life of the Byzantine Empire. Emperors spoke Latin and enforced Roman laws. Many wealthy Roman families traveled east to the Byzantine Empire and lived in towns or on large farming estates. Similarly to how things were done in Rome, the government gave the empire's poor people free bread and entertainment shows. Over time, the Roman influence on the Byzantine Empire faded, while Greek influence in the area increased. Most Byzantines spoke Greek, and Byzantine emperors and officials also began to speak Greek instead of Latin. The ideas of non-Greek peoples, like the Egyptians and the Slavs, also shaped Byzantine life. Still other customs came from Persia to the east. All of these cultures blended together to form the Byzantine civilization. Between a.d. 500 and a.d. 1200, the Byzantines developed one of the world's most advanced civilizations. They preserved and passed on Greek culture and Roman law to other peoples. As you will learn, they also brought Christianity to people in Eastern Europe. Source: Source: Discovering Our Past: A History of the World—Modern Times, Mc-Graw Hill Education, 2014

7. Name : _________________________________________ Date:______________ Period:________ Constantinople DBQ Historical Context: Constantinople’s location was beneficial to the Byzantine Empire Task: Using evidence from the documents, answer the following questions to discover why Constantinople’s location helped the Byzantine Empire grow to be a successful and powerful empire. • Document 1: “Constantine Founds Constantinople, 324 CE,” Sozomen, c. 450 CE • According to Document 1, why did Constantine choose to build Constantinople on top of a hill? • 2. What evidence is there in Document 1 that shows Constantinople would be a center of cultural diffusion? Document 2: Trade About 1000 A.D. Map • According to Document 2, what city was most likely the center of trade in the Byzantine Empire? • What goods came from Africa? • What goods came from Europe? • How would these trade routes contribute to Constantinople’s prosperity? • Document 3: “Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354,” IbnBattuta • According to the author, why is the eastern part of the city more secure? • According to the author, what types of people inhabit the western bank of the city? • What is the main profession of the men who live on the western bank of the city? • How does the author describe the harbor of Constantinople?

8. Document 4: “The Byzantine Economy,” Cecile Morrisson, Cambrige University Press, 2007 • According to the document, what are two ways the Byzantine Empire used the location of Constantinople to its advantage? • Document 5: Discovering Our Past: A History of the World—Modern Times, Mc-Graw Hill Education, 2014 • Describe Constantinople’s physical geography. • According to the document, how did Constantinople’s location make it easy to defend? • Document 6: Discovering Our Past: A History of the World—Modern Times, Mc-Graw Hill Education, 2014 • According to the document, how did Rome influence life in the Byzantine Empire? • Using evidence from the document, explain how the Byzantine Empire was a good example of cultural diversity.