1/13/2024 0 Comments Xix 1200![]() While Constantine’s founding of New Rome coincided with efforts to establish Christianity as the state religion, that didn’t formally happen until after Theodosius I ascended to power in 379. Less is known of Constantine’s Imperial Palace, which also figured prominently in the heart of the city, but it featured an elaborate display of mosaics, as well as a grand entrance known as the Chalke Gate. Built on the site of former imperial churches by Justinian I, it was completed in less than six years by a workforce of 10,000 laborers.įour columns supported a massive dome with a diameter of more than 100 feet, while its polished marble and dazzling mosaics gave the Hagia Sophia the impression of always being brightly lit. The Hagia Sophia marked a triumph of architectural design. More than 400 feet long, it's estimated to have seated up to 100,000 people. The Hippodrome, originally built by Severus in the third century and expanded by Constantine, served as an arena for chariot races and other public events such as parades and displaying of the emperor’s captive enemies. Expanding the city perimeter west from Constantine’s wall by approximately a mile, the new one stretched 3-1/2 miles from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn.Ī double set of walls was added after a series of earthquakes in the mid-fifth century, the inner layer standing some 40 feet high and studded with towers that reached another 20 feet. HippodromeĬonstantinople endured for more than 1,100 years as the Byzantine capital in large part due to the protective wall completed under Theodosius II in 413. ![]() Despite his illiteracy, he followed Justinian by undertaking renovations and attempting further codification of laws, and successfully pushed the empire’s borders south. 867 to 886) launched what became the two-century-long Macedonian dynasty. ![]() He was the first emperor of the Isurian dynasty. 717 to 741) fought off an Arab siege of the city and stabilized the throne after recent years of upheaval. He launched successful military campaigns that helped the Byzantines reclaim territories lost with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century, expanding its borders to encircle the Mediterranean Sea.Īdditionally, Justinian established a uniform system of law with the Justinian Code, which would serve as a blueprint for civilizations to come.Īlong with spurring the spread of iconoclasm in the Empire, Leo III (who ruled from A.D. 527 to 565, weathered the Nika Revolt early in his tenure and used the occasion to undertake extensive renovations of the city. It would be governed by Roman law, observe Christianity and adopt Greek as its primary language, although it would serve as a melting pot of races and cultures due to its unique geographic location straddling Europe and Asia. 330, Constantine established the city that would make its mark in the ancient world as Constantinople, but also would become known by other names, including the Queen of Cities, Istinpolin, Stamboul and Istanbul. With a system of aqueducts already in place, he ensured access to water through the widening city by the construction of the Binbirdirek Cistern. The emperor also sought to populate the city through offering residents free food rations. Its wide avenues were lined by statues of great rulers like Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, as well as one of Constantine himself as Apollo. He lured noblemen through gifts of land, and transferred art and other ornaments from Rome for display in the new capital. Constantine set about expanding the territory of old Byzantium, dividing it into 14 sections and constructing a new outer wall.
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