Constantinople :: essays research papers fc

This essay provide attempt to analyse and explain all the causes and factors that play to the choice of Constantinople as eastern big(p) of the empire. From the very outset the reasons for such a catalytic move, which provided the impetus for the creation of a invigorated era, will be examined as lucidly as possible. To conclude, having appraised the above, much light will be thrown on the choice of Constantinople, amongst other locations, as the eastern capital of the empire in terms of geographic position, religious and economical factors.Numerous were the reasons that gradually led to the movement of the empire to the East. Initially, Rome was very far from the regions of the shores of the Bosphorus and the river Euphrates and so unable to confront effectively the empires to the highest degree significant enemies (the Goths and the Persians) that had made their appearance from the 3rd century. Additionally, Rome, a centre of paganism, with its memories of municipal traditio ns and republican sentiment, with its aristocratic, improve and fiercely traditionalist senators , had begun to annoy the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (337-362). He, himself, was a vigorous supporter of Christianity and especially after the prolonged period of his successful skirmish with Licinius (314-323), he was convinced that the future belonged to the Christians and for that reason, he decided to turn decisively towards the East, which was the main source and origin of the new religion. Furthermore, from the 3rd century onwards, most of the emperors originated from provinces and did non share significant bonds with Rome. What Constantine visualised instead of sacrifices to pagan deities and four emperors with irregular courts and capitals, was an empire with one emperor and one established capital, along with a brainy innovative church devoted to the glory of the one true God . He therefore regarded the foundation of a new city as the most important symbol of his dee per aim, the renewal of the empire.In 324, the old Greek trading city of Byzantium (modern Istanbul) was chosen by Constantine the Great as the ultimate spot for the new city that would form the headquarters of the empire in the East and was renamed after his own name, Constantinople (Constantinou-polis). It is a fact that among the fundamental criteria for choosing this specific location were its strategic geographical position between Europe and Asia, its strategic value for the command of the seas and of the main routes over-land from East to West and from North to South, as well as the right inter-group communication between the centre and the periphery of the Empire.