[12:18] The building of the walls: why was it needed? What was left of the old Byzantine empire was absorbed into Ottoman territory following the conquest of Mistra in 1460 CE and Trebizond in 1461 CE. The land walls spanned 4 miles (6.5 km) and consisted of a double line of ramparts with a moat on the outside; the higher of the two stood as high as 40 feet (12 metres) with a … As a final touch, Theodosius dug a wide moat at the base of the outermost wall. [2:21] How Patrick became interested in two major strains in the history of world events. The Walls of Constantinople enabled the city to endure long after the Roman empire was fading. An amateur historian and travel enthusiast, I travel around the world full-time visiting historic sites: hidden chapels, Communist monuments, ancient cities, religious relics, or There are several ways to demand tribute from them: 1. However, war broke out in 193 BC and the city was captured by Septimius Seve… This was a fun conversation where we got to talk not only about the walls themselves but also the history surrounding why they became necessary, which world powers have made attempts to destroy them by laying siege to the city, and what finally happened to the walls through the course of time. Destroy their wonder To the north is their extensive harbor, and to the east west are their allies Marcianopolis (green) and Philipopolis(red). Your name and responses will be shared with TED Ed. [bctt tweet=”How did the walls of #Constantinople finally disappear? Constantinople was also ideally situated on hills that accentuated the height of the walls. The world owes much of its cultural legacy to Constantinople's walls. The 5th-century city walls built by Emperor Theodosius II stretch for 6.5 km (4 miles) from Istanbul‘s Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara . Threaten their wonder 6. Because it is a historic part of history, the partly ruined walls were restored and. Discover video-based lessons organized by age/subject, 30 Quests to celebrate, explore and connect with nature, Discover articles and updates from TED-Ed, Students can create talks on their own, in class or at home, Learn how educators in your community can give their own TED-style talks, Nominate educators or animators to work with TED-Ed, Donate to support TED-Ed’s non-profit mission, Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Saved Western Civilization, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook1c.asp, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203917304574412984059644024.html, A day in the life of an ancient Babylonian business mogul, Building the world's largest (and most controversial) power plant, The rise and fall of history’s first empire. The city was built on a promontory projecting into the Bosphorus (Bosporus), which is the strait between the Sea of Marmara (Propontis) and the Black Sea (Pontus Euxinus). Contrary to what some people believe, the city walls of Istanbul were not the brainchild of Constantinople the Great. [bctt tweet=”The threat of #Attila and his #Huns was enough to prompt the building of the walls of #Constantinople @Patrick_Wyman” username=””]. Find an example of something extrodinary invented or discovered by these ancient people and describe why it's so incredible. The wall was built in 412-414, surrounded an area of 12 km², was 12 m high, and had 96 towers that were about 18 m tall. To track your work across TED-Ed over time, Register or Login instead. In fact, the very first walls were built long before his reign, and had already undergone repairs using tombstones as early as 340 BC. Many attempts had been made but none successful. ... he secured and fortified areas around Constantinople to cut supplies to the city. Tweets You Can Use To Share This Episode! The third wall was smaller but the inner walls and towers were aligned to create integrated fields of fire. Constantinople was made the new Ottoman capital, the massive Golden Gate of the Theodosian Walls was made part of the castle treasury of Mehmed, while the Christian community was permitted to survive, guided by the bishop Gennadeios II. Constantinople had strategic location which made this city rich during the end of Eastern Roman Empire. Istanbul city walls are defensive stone walls that surrounded and protected the old city of Constantinople. Constantine built the city of Constantinople, obviously naming it after himself and the capital of the Roman empire was moved. Two related projects were the construction of the Aetius Cistern, close to the new walls, and improved Sea Walls (439). When Constantinople was under siege by neighboring enemies, the Roman city’s elaborate system of moats, outer walls, and inner walls stood tall. It is part of the historic area of the city, to preserve and protect1. Destroy their castle 5. From the perspective of history, it should be noted that the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople entailed just one of the fortification systems for the major city of Constantinople. On a larger scale, giant wall fences have also been erected by rulers in the past to protect cities or even countries. Destroy their docks 4. Surviving numerous fire attacks, the walls were eventually brought down by more modern tools of warfare, but, thankfully, classical culture survived. Because it is a historic part of history, the partly ruined walls were restored and. There is a bit of mystery concerning what eventually happened to cause the mighty walls of Constantinople to diminish to the rubble they are today. Create and share a new lesson based on this one. The Walls of Constantinople are a series of stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople since its founding as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. To enter, simply be a newsletter subscriber and leave a comment on this blog post, [bctt tweet=”When the capital of #Rome moved to #Constantinople, defensive measures had to be taken @Patrick_Wyman” username=””], [bctt tweet=”The Walls of #Constantinople enabled the city to endure long after the #Roman empire was fading @Patrick_Wyman” username=””], Your email address will not be published. Today the walls are hardly visible and modern tour guides don’t think them worth pointing out, but their historical significance can’t be understated. His forces laid waste to countless fortified cities all across Asia and Eastern Europe and the threat his armies posed prompted the building of the Walls of Constantinople. When Constantinople was under siege by neighboring enemies, the Roman city’s elaborate system of moats, outer walls, and inner walls stood tall. The Walls of Constantinople surrounded the Roman and Byzantine city of Constantinople (today Istanbul in Turkey). Many attempts had … Only students who are 13 years of age or older can create a TED-Ed account. Born AD ca. Tekfur Sarayi and St. Saviour in Chora ), but Bucoleon Palace was left to rot. [26:14] Was their really a slow erosion of the Roman empire? [6:05] The basic history of Theodosius II, the builder of the Walls of Constantinople. Section of the walls of Constantinople: Anthemius' wall, Cyrus' wall, battlements, and moat. An excellent map of Constantinople at the time of its conquest by the Ottomans in 1453 (source unknown) Emperor Constantine built walls to protect the city, but new housing developments outside them and the growing threat of the Goths and the Huns made them obsolete. @Patrick_Wyman” username=””], The prize for this week is a $20 Amazon gift card. During the whole existence of the Byzantine Empire, the garrison of the city was quite small: the imperial guards and the small city watch (the pedatoura or kerketon) under the urban prefectwere the only permanent armed force available. Patrick Wyman tells how the pressure brought by the Huns motivated Theodosius II to begin the building of the walls and how their strength protected the city for many years, in this episode. Theodosius II lead the effort to build the walls initially and they were the paragon of Roman engineering and defensive capabilities in their day. The name that eventually prevailed i… Attila the Hun was one of the most dominant warlords in all of human history. Comer Plummer III The art of fortification has existed ever since man first came to realize the value of natural obstacles to his common defense, and evolved as he sought to invoke his own methods to fully exploit that advantage. The original walls of the city were built in the 8th century BC when Byzantium was founded by Greek colonists from Megara. The Walls of Constantinople are a succession of walls that have bordered and safeguarded the city of Constantinople (Modern day Istanbul) since it was founded as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. Patrick Wyman is a historian and podcaster I hold in great regard and I’ve invited him on the show today to discuss the history and prominence of the great Walls of Constantinople and the role they’ve played in the history of the city of Constantinople, now modern day Istanbul. In the subsequent years, the urban area rather thrived as … [1:20] My introduction of the topic and my guest today, Patrick Wyman. Constantinople is almost surrounded by water, except on its side facing Europe where walls were built. Any threat to the city would have to be dealt with by the field armies in the provinces, before it could approach the city itself. Read the site’s full Privacy & Disclosure policy here. [9:04] How the capital of Rome moved from the city of Rome to Constantinople. The city was perceived to be of little importance despite the fact that its inhabitants were relatively wealthy. Required fields are marked *. [31:21] The reality of what happened during the Crusades. In the 15th century, Constantinople’s walls were widely recognized as the most formidable in all of Europe. The story of the city begins before acquiring the name of “Constantinople”. The world owes much of its cultural legacy to Constantinople’s walls. Here are Top 5 amazing ancient walls around the world still standing today. Istanbul - Istanbul - Constantinople: Within three weeks of his victory, the foundation rites of New Rome were performed, and the much-enlarged city was officially inaugurated on May 11, 330. During 324–336 the city was thoroughly rebuilt and inaugurated on 11 May 330 under the name of "Second Rome". But eventually the Muslim forces attacking during the crusades were able to break through and take the city – but their leaders immediately began rebuilding the walls, knowing the strategic advantage they provided. In 413 Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius II decided to build new walls, not only on land, but also on the seafront. The Roman empire had already been divided and many of its fortified cities destroyed by the time the city of Constantinople was in any serious danger from outside forces. The Palaiologos dynasty (1261-1453) restored some churches and palaces and built or enlarged others (e.g. Facts about Constantinople 10: the strategic position. The city of walls: Constantinople - Lars Brownworth - YouTube Surviving numerous fire attacks, the walls were eventually brought down by more modern tools of warfare, but, thankfully, classical culture survived. With multiple additions and renovations throughout their long history, they are one of the greatest and most intricate… The city of Constantinople was a highly valued prize to many would-be conquerors due to the geographic strength of its location. When finished, the Theodosian Wallswere almost 7 km (over 4 miles) in length. By Easter, Byzantium, which had seen many sieges by … [bctt tweet=”The Walls of Constantinople, Ep 9 w @Patrick_Wyman” username=””]. Copyright 2018 History Fangirl The twin fortresses of Rumelihisari and Anadoluhisarı were completed on either side of the Bosporus just miles north of Constantinople. Nominate yourself here ». Other important buildings in Constantinople included the Galata Tower, the sacred Imperial Palace, Golden Gate of Land Walls, and the Hippodrome. People who lived inside the city may have felt little impact when outside forces attacked simply because the walls made it so secure. TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. There is little historical record as to what happened to the walls, but my guest on this episode, Patrick Wyman believes the city simply outgrew the walls, their usefulness became less important, and they had to be removed. Of course modern Istanbul outgrew the surrounding walls and fell into disrepair but there has been an ongoing restoration programme since the 1980s. Containing impressive city walls, Constantinople was virtually impervious to attack, such as when an army of Goths approached the city after the battle of Adrianople in A.D. 378. When Constantinople was under siege by neighboring enemies, the Roman city's elaborate system of moats, outer walls, and inner walls stood tall. The Roman empire had already been divided and many of its fortified cities destroyed by the time the city of Constantinople was in any serious danger from outside forces. The city became a hotbed of political power and cultural diversity as a major trade route and defensive measures had to be taken to protect the city from outside forces, namely the Huns. You can hear our entire conversation about these amazing walls and their impact on the region, on this episode of The History Fangirl. When Constantinople returned into the hands of a Byzantine emperor in 1261 it bore little resemblance to the city of 1204. Your email address will not be published. Like Severus before him, Constantine began to punish the city for siding with his defeated rival, but soon he too realized the advantages of Byzantium's location. [35:22] The rebuilding of the walls by the conquering forces. Byzantium had first been reconstructed in the time of Septimius Severus not just as a Roman city, but modelled on Rome itself, on and around seven hills. Constantinople’s great city walls were breached onlytwice in 1600 years. The Walls of Constantinople are a series of stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul in Turkey) since its founding as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. The Eastern Romans (Byzantines) were famous for their cleverness. In times of need, such as the earthquake of 447 or the raids by the Avars in the early 7th century, the general population, organized in the guilds and the hip… [50:40] Patrick’s plug for The Tides of History podcast. Meanwhile, Mehmed, aged only 21 and now known as \"the Conqueror\", settled in for a long reign and another 28 y… Only students who are 13 years of age or older can save work on TED-Ed Lessons. The walls were an engineering marvel, essentially making the city impregnable as they made use of the city’s location overlooking the water. Destroy their lone Monasteryto the south of the city 2. Surviving numerous fire attacks, the walls were eventually brought down by more modern tools of warfare, but, thankfully, classical culture survived. Patrick Wyman joins me on this episode to discuss the history and importance of the walls of Constantinople. It appears on the third level of the Attila the Hun campaign, Walls of Constantinople. Get a free audiobook and a 30-day free trial of Audible at. 377 in Spain. For many years the city of Rome was the jewel of the empire, but as the eastern portion of the empire became more and more powerful and influential, it became clear that the center of commerce and culture had moved east. Walls of Constantinople. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? It is part of the historic area of the city, to preserve and protect1. B2 H-INT city moat constantinople constantine roman wall 【TED-Ed】The city of walls: Constantinople - Lars Brownworth 7577 105. They are by far the largest and most powerful team on the map. [42:10] After such extensive rebuilding, how did the city lose its walls again? At the time the city covered an acropolis and little more. It was the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II (408-450) who expanded the area of his imperial capital of Constantinople by building these great land walls farther out into the country. To that end, the first batch of land walls had their origins back in 6th century BC, when the settlement was founded by Greeks from the Dorian city of Megara and was known as Byzantium. Want a daily email of lesson plans that span all subjects and age groups? With periodic repairs, they defended the city effectively until the late 19th century. [19:49] How the walls of Constantinople shaped the history of the city. Meanwhile, his huge land army of 100,000 men was on the march, moving through Thrace and camping before the city’s 14 miles of walls. It was an act of vast historical portent. any place that is beautiful, interesting, or weird. The Garrisons of the city, the walls, built from limestone and brick are walls of Constantinople are stone walls juxtaposed to protect the city of Constantinople, today known as Instanbul. Built on a peninsula, the city could not be easily surrounded. —. Begin a siege on their outer walls 3. In addition to the mysterious Greek Fire (we still don’t know exactly how they made it), they had an early form of air conditioning, hydraulic powered doors, and ‘automatons’- powered statues of lions and birds that could roar or sing at the touch of a lever. The Garrisons of the city, the walls, built from limestone and brick are walls of Constantinople are stone walls juxtaposed to protect the city of Constantinople, today known as Instanbul. Click Register if you need to create a free TED-Ed account. If you have already logged into ted.com click Log In to verify your authentication. Later Constantine the Great chose it as his new capital, renaming it Constantinople, and it remained the capital of the eastern part of the Roman empire.. Arcadius (reign AD 395-408) Flavius Arcadius. The walls of the great city had never been breached by a foreign foe. For almost 1,000 years that wall of Constantinople defended Western Christendom-only to be compromised by Crusaders and finally breached by Turkish cannons. Get facts about Classical Latin here. The world owes much of its cultural legacy to Constantinople, they defended the city walls... Constantinople enabled the city audiobook and a 30-day free trial of Audible at related... 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