It was recovered through the combined powers of the Byzantine Empire and the crusaders of the First Crusade in 1098 and was a first step and staging post for the recovery of the Holy Land. It was seized by the Arabs during the invasions of the seventh century and was regularly challenged by both the Byzantine Empire and the Arab Caliphates all throughout the early medieval period. Under Roman rule, it continued as a center for trade and, in the latter days of the empire, became a center for early Christianity. It was an ancient city built by Seleucus I Nicator, a member of the Diadochi, who fought for succession of the Macedonian Empire after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.Īs the capital of the Seleucid Kingdom, Antioch flourished as a unique trading center as it was at the western end of the silk and spice road. AntiochĪntioch, on the Orontes River, was the capital of both the Seleucid Empire and Roman Syria. These are two dates which mark the end of Byzantine rule. Its walls, which were frequently described as “the tallest and most dominant on the planet,” would be breached just twice in a thousand years: once in 1204, and again in 1453. Later, during the medieval Byzantine Empire, and for a great part of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was the wealthiest and most densely populated city in Europe. After the fall of the Western Empire, the emperor in Constantinople became the sole Roman emperor until 1453.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476, Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and was looked upon as the new Roman capital as political power gradually moved eastwards. Throughout its fascinating history, Constantinople was noted for the magnificence of its places of worship, especially the Hagia Sophia. The Holy See of Constantinople became the eastern equivalent of the Holy See of Rome in AD 451 at the Council of Chalcedon. For this reason, it soon became famous for its riches, indulgence, and extraordinary trading facilities. It rapidly turned into a trading capital of the late Roman Empire, being on the western end of the spice and silk routes. It also acted as a gateway between the Mediterranean and the Euxine (Black) seas. It was considered a new Rome and became known as the Queen of Cities. It was built on the site of the old Greek state of Byzantium on the shores of the Propontis in AD 330 by the then ruler Constantine.
However, parts of northern Europe were conquered in the first century AD as Roman control in Europe, Africa, and Asia increased.Ĭonstantinople became the new Roman capital city of the east. Much of this Roman development occurred during the time of the republic. One exception was Constantinople, which was built from scratch on the site of the old city Byzantium. Jerusalem was completely destroyed after numerous Jewish rebellions against the empire. Some were reconstructed such as Carthage and Sarmizegethusa Regia (Dacia). The Roman Empire conquered a lot of cities, and many of them were kept as the administrative centers of the original kingdoms such as Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Athens. Cities on the coast were mainly concerned with business, while the ones inland were mainly administrative. Canals brought fresh water into the cities to feed the wells and bathhouses. These walls were particularly inportant for towns close to the edges of the realm. The towns were surrounded by tall walls to help keep out invaders. At the intersection of these two main roads were the administrative buildings, temples, markets, and meeting places. At the center of the town were two long avenues running east to west and north to south.
The roads were straight and formed a grid pattern. The Romans built many great cities throughout their empire, and these cities were all constructed along similar lines. The Romans’ enthusiasm for creating and expanding their cities led to significant changes to their environment, such as extensive quarrying and deforestation to provide wood. The Latin expression imperium sine fine (“empire without end”) communicates the idea that neither time nor space could constrain the Roman Empire.