Chapter 1: The City of Wonder
The city of Constantinople is one of the most interesting places on the globe. Situated on a strait that is surrounded by the Bosporus, it is one of the best places to put a highly-defensible capital. For more than 1000 years, Constantinople was among one of the most glittering jewels in the Byzantine Empire.
In Jonathan Harris’ 2007 book, Constantinople: Capital of Byzantium, the author discusses how the city created an image of itself as a place of prosperity and luxury. He gives an account in which nobility from Northern Europe have their own name for the city, “Mikgarth” and how impressed they are by the city. Tales begin to be spun about Constantinople and its many riches.
It is not surprising to me that the city had such impact on people. Harris describes the Hippodrome, one of my favorite pieces of architecture as a place that hold tens of thousands of people. Originally, it was set up for chariot races. Harris recounts an occasion when the Hippodrome had been used to showcase booty from the Byzantine’s successful expedition to retake the island of Crete from the Arabs.
In this chapter, Harris includes descriptions of the Hagia Sophia and its magnificent architecture. I too wish to go to the Hagia Sophia one day and stand inside the building, gazing at the wonder of it.
Harris also makes it clear that Constantinople was a place that was both modern and ancient. Modern in the sense of the contemporary middle ages. It had ancient statues and obelisks from a whole manner of cultures and states. This shows how Byzantium was truly aware of its important links to the past. The obelisk of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh is just one of many ancient artifacts in the capital city.
He ends the chapter with a majestic account from a visitor who came to the city in the 11th century.
“Third of the gold and sliver of the planet is here”
Constantinople was indeed a very wealthy city in its time.
Byzantine-Empire.com 