1. Introduction to the Byzantine Empire
By Emperor Fitzpatrick

2. Objective You should remember how the Byzantine Empire came to be.
You should recognize why the location for Constantinople was key to it’s success.

3. The founding of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire
Since the Rule of Diocletian (in the late 200s A.D.) The Roman Empire was divided in two
Western and Eastern Empires
The Western half was being weakened by constant attacking Germanic invaders.
In 330 A.D. Emperor Constantine decided to relocate the capital.

5. Byzantium
He chose to locate the capital at the Greek city of Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople (this was the area we looked at on the map)
Constantine molded the new capital after Rome
Often referred to as “new Rome”

6. Advantages Peninsula Provided natural safe harbors for ships
MAP
Advantages
Peninsula
Provided natural safe harbors for ships
both merchant and military ships
Provided natural defense
water on three sides (the Black and Aegean Seas)

7. Advantages Trade Easy access to the Mediterranean Sea
MAP
Advantages
Trade
Easy access to the Mediterranean Sea
Located at an important land route that linked Europe and Asia (Silk Road)

8. What are the advantages of building a major city here?

9. Constantinople City was heavily fortified Multi-ethnic city
Water on three side plus a wall was built to protect the fourth side (sometimes chained the harbor)
Multi-ethnic city
Greeks, Persians, Italians, Turks, Slavs, Armenians, and Jews lived in the city
The citizens spoke Greek, but Latin was the official language.

12. Constantinople
During Constantine's rule, over 600,000 people lived in the city.
Constantine convinced many wealthy Romans to move to the city by offering to build them palaces.

13. Rise of the Eastern Empire
In 410 A.D. Rome fell to the Germanic invaders
However the city of Constantinople and the eastern empire remained.
This is when the Byzantine Empire began.