Constantinople (Byzantium)

Constantinople, originally known as Byzantium, was a significant city located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Founded by the Greeks, it became the capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD when Emperor Constantine the Great renamed it. Renowned for its strategic location and impressive defenses, Constantinople was a hub of trade, culture, and Christianity. It flourished as the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years, known for landmarks like the Hagia Sophia. The city fell to the Ottomans in 1453, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and a pivotal moment in history.