The City of Constantinople
Tucked between the Black Sea, and the Aegean Sea lies a small neck of land. In ancient times this peninsula was a popular travel route for merchants and traders. Because it could be accessed from two different seas, as well as by land, it was a perfect location for a city.
In addition, this location was easy to protect from attack. The water that surrounded it made it difficult for opposing armies to attack. The one side that was open to land could be protected by building a large thick wall.
Recognizing the strategic value of this location, the Roman emperor Constantine built a city here in A.D. 330. He named the city Constantinople after himself.
The city of Constantinople quickly grew, becoming the wealthiest city in the Roman Empire, even more wealthy than the city of Rome itself. In A.D. 395 when the Roman Empire was split, Constantinople was the most logical location for the capital of the newly created Byzantine Empire.
