About Byzantium

Before 1453, Istanbul, a European city in Turkey, was not an Islamic city, but a typical Christian eastern city, the capital of traditional Greek Orthodox Church and the capital of traditional Eastern Rome-Byzantium. Christians in Europe called it Constantinople to commemorate its founder Constantine the Great, who made it rich and civilized throughout the Middle Ages and attracted the attention of nations and people in all parts of the Middle Ages. Before that, it was just a sea city founded by Greek immigrants, and its earliest name was Byzantium. Byzantine city was founded in 657 BC. Its earliest founder was Bezace, who was the military leader of Megara, one of the once powerful Greek colonial cities in the classical world. Therefore, this new city was named Byzantium. At that time, it was an important hub city connecting the classical civilizations of Asia and Europe. An important transshipment port for world commerce.

At that time, Constantine the Great chose Byzantium as the capital. He issued a decree stating that he made this choice under the inspiration of God. Later writers described that Emperor Constantine had a dream when he stayed overnight in Byzantine city, dreaming that the patron saint of Byzantium, an old and frail old woman, became a beautiful girl overnight, so the emperor personally decorated her with all the great symbols of the empire. After waking up, the emperor reviewed this auspicious sign and decided to act according to God's will. On the day when the new town was laid, Constantine led a solemn guard of honor and held a grand celebration according to the tradition of ancient Rome. He walked at the head of the team with a spear in his hand and drew the boundary of the future city himself. The attendants were very surprised that the emperor had gone so far and asked him, "My master, how far do you want to go?" He replied, "When the invisible God who guides me forward thinks it should stop." After determining the site of the city, Constantine the Great spared no expense in decorating the future capital with his entire empire. The most valuable treasures, trophies of famous battles, sacred objects with religious significance, beautifully carved statues and sculptures of ancient heroes and poets in many ancient cities in Greece and Asia were transported there from all corners, making the city more brilliant. Constantine the Great built a palace, a Senate, an arena, a theater, a public bathroom, a water aqueduct, a court, a conference hall, a residence for aristocratic elders and so on. In order to strengthen the defense, the famous Great Wall of Constantinople was built in the Balkan hills behind the city. In order to emphasize the traditional connection between Byzantium and Rome, Constantine the Great called the city "New Rome" and named it after himself, namely Constantine. Since then, the historical pattern of the Roman world divided into two has been laid. The so-called medieval Byzantine civilization was built on this fertile soil centered on Constantinople (Byzantium).