Commerce:
The Byzantine empire is one of the wealthiest empires and Constantinople is the prime hub for trading. They trade oil, wine, salt fish, meat, vegetables, other alimentary products, salt, timber, wax, ceramics, linen, and woven cloth. Some of the more luxuries items include silks, perfumes and spices. They trade with a diverse range of people including people in Africa, Northern Europe, Russia, China, and even Vikings! The city is a large manufacturer of the luxury, silk. It is used to make dresses and is shipped to foreign princes and emperors as gifts. Fun Fact: The sale of red or purple silk was especially prohibited since these were colors only worn by the emperor, his family and certain high officials. The city prospers with trade and is well-known for being a main trading area within the Silk Roads.
Culture and Society:
Constantinople is the largest urban city in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and it contains many taverns and theaters for your entertainment. Another attraction is the chariot races they hold. One of the wonders of Constantinople is the Hagia Sophia, a church that is ruled by their emperor. The Hagia Sophia is a dome that is a stunning 31 meters wide and 55 meters tall. It is an Eastern Orthodox church with beautiful marble walls and brilliant architecture. Their society consists of merchants and shop keepers and is predominately Christian.
Locations on the Post-Classical Trade Network:
(Constantinople is located in modern day Istanbul, Turkey) Constantinople is located on the Bosporus Strait, the waterway that connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Therefore, it is very strategically placed, being both defended by water on three sides, and also well positioned to demand taxes from ships traveling their trade routes. This allows them to be a main trading hub in the Post-Classical Era. It is easily accessible by boat and by land. It is wealthy and prosperous because of this and is a wonderful place to visit!
Religious Influences:
Constantinople is mainly a Christian dominated society and, in some places, is considered “the center of Christianity”. It began as a Pagan society. Christianity influenced the society by first converting the emperor to Christianity which brought great power to the religion. Eventually the Edict of Milan was initiated which allowed Jews to convert to Christianity without the consequence of being killed or stoned by other Jews. As Christianity grew and grew, more churches were built and soon enough, the establishment of the now famous Hagia Sophia occurred in 537. Christianity now dominates the region with beautiful churches and statues!
Reasons for growth:
Constantinople is the city that connects trade between Europe and Asia. It is the capital of the Byzantine empire which houses the king. Since the emperor/kings inhabitants the city many political activities are held there which helps gathers a population. Imperial taxes paid for magnificent buildings and for a good army to fight invaders and conquer new land to spread the empire. The emperors made alliances through marriage which helped the empire grow stronger and prosper. Today, Constantinople is beautiful and wealthy thanks to all the hard work that has been done for the city!
Innovations:
An increasing wealth allows the people of Constantinople to improve their trade and architecture. They invest more money into more efficient ways of trading and making their goods. They even used their own currency for trade! They created innovations such as the Pendentive dome, pointed arch bridge, and the cross-in square which are predominately used in Byzantine churches.
Photos:
Bibliography:
"Byzantine Empire." Byzantine Empire. Niskyschools, n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2013.
"Constantinople Images." Your Dictionary. Google, 1996-2013. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.
Jain, K. Wikipedia, 2010. <http://period20910.wikispaces.com/Constantinople~Jain,Kelleher, Reffsin>.
Logos Academy. "The Byzantine Empire." The Byzantine Empire. Slide Share, 09 Dec. 2009. Web. 14 Oct. 2013
Moore, Jared. "Did Constantine Impact Christianity Positively, Negatively, or at All?" Yahoo Contributor Network. Yahoo, 16 Apr. 2010. Web. 6 Oct.
2013.
"Constantinople Images." Your Dictionary. Google, 1996-2013. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.
Jain, K. Wikipedia, 2010. <http://period20910.wikispaces.com/Constantinople~Jain,Kelleher, Reffsin>.
Logos Academy. "The Byzantine Empire." The Byzantine Empire. Slide Share, 09 Dec. 2009. Web. 14 Oct. 2013
Moore, Jared. "Did Constantine Impact Christianity Positively, Negatively, or at All?" Yahoo Contributor Network. Yahoo, 16 Apr. 2010. Web. 6 Oct.
2013.