Constantinople
Constantinople was founded by Constantine. Constantinople showed lots of difficulties, but managed to succeed.
Constantinople was founded by Constantine around the years 300s C.E. After reuniting the empire Constantine needed a new capital. Old Rome was never considered, due to the fact that Constantine new its infrastructure was declining. He decided to place it near the east in an strategic place were both Asia and Europe met. Also this was a perfect place for defending due to the terrain.
So he started the construction of the city. But the location wasn’t as perfect as they thought,, now water was a problem. So constantine decided to build aqueducts similar to the ones in Rome, but this ones would be the biggest ones ever. This aqueduct named Valens, would be 250 kilometers. This aqueduct together with other ones would supply water to Nova Roma (New Rome) also named Constantinople. In addition to the aqueducts they would have massive storage cisterns under the city. This would supply water to the city during the dry seasons.
“ In 337 CE Constantine died, leaving his successors and the empire in turmoil. Constantius ll defeated his brothers (and any other challengers) and became the empire’s sole emperor. The only individual he spared was his cousin Julian, only five years old at the time and not considered a viable threat; however, the young man would surprise his older cousin and one day becomes an emperor himself, Julian the Apostate. Constantius II enlarged the governmental bureaucracy(government by many bureaus), adding quaestors, praetors, and even tribunes. He built another cistern and additional grain silos." Ancient.eu
Two other emperors deserve mention: Leo III and Basil I. Leo III (717 – 741 CE) is best known for instituting iconoclasm, the destruction of all religious relics and icons, the city would lose monuments, mosaics and works of art. Eventhough this acts were unforgivable, he was also the responsible for saving Constantinople when the Arabs attached. he used a new weapon call Greek Fire. This were similar to modern day napalms.
Constantinople would become the Nova Roma. A new capital city constructed from scrash. It would become the center of all commerce and power in the East of Europe and West of Asia. This capital would succeed and lead its empire to victory, for hundred of years.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
http://www.ancient.eu/Constantinople/
http://www.roman-empire.net/constant/constant-index.html
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/constantinople.html
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Constantinople
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/constantinople.htm
Elaborated by:
Bianka Pineda
Carlos Cueva
Cesar Enamorado
Elvin Carrasco
Sofia Espinal