Some Questions
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Briefly trace the history of Constantinople from the time when Byzantium was a Greek colony, through the early years of Constantinople itself, to its role as the capital of the Byzantine Empire, to its takeover in 1453 and new role as the heart of the Ottoman Empire, to its place as the most important city in the Republic of Turkey. To what extent can the history of this one city be used as a focal point for discussing major themes in world history over the past three thousand years?
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How and why have the fortunes and the identity of Constantinople shifted over the centuries?
Starting Places
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Constantinople -- Wikipedia:
An overview from the on-line encyclopedia. -
Fall Of Constantinople -- Wikipedia:
An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Articles
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Judith Herrin, "The Fall Of Constantinople," History Today, 53 (June 2003).
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Robert Hughes, "Tale Of Two Cities," Time (August 26, 1974).
Constantinople In the News
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Sarah Rainsford, "Istanbul's Ancient Past Unearthed," BBC News, January 10, 2009.
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Jan Repa, "Christian Divisions Cloud Pope's Talks," BBC News, November 29, 2006.
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"Pope Sorrow Over Constantinople," BBC News, June 29, 2004.
Web-Sites
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Byzantium 1200: A large on-line project to develop computer re-creations of Byzantine Monuments circa 1200 CE.
Audio Sources
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"The Siege Of Constantinople," In Our Time, BBC Radio 4, December 28, 2006.
