Constantinople

Constantinople

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. It got its name from the emperor Constantine. It quickly became one of the wealthiest cities in the Roman Empire. It linked key trade and it stayed secure with high walls and surrounding seas. It fell when armies from the Ottoman Empire came in and took over. Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire and is now a city in Turkey.

A very important part of Constantinople's trade was the silk industry. It was very expensive and fine material. It was started in China and was going through Constantinople because it was being sent to Kings or high royalty as gifts.

Constantine was the first Christian Emperor of the Roman Empire. Christianity became a huge part of not only the Empire, but the city. The Byzantines used Greek fire to protect the city from being attacked. Greek fire was used by firing it at an object and it would then blow up, it is still a mystery what exactly it was made up of.