Constantine, whose victory over his rivals had been secured by his talents as an administrator and a diplomatist no less than by his military skill, was one of those men whose hard practical ability has stamped upon the history of the world a much deeper impress than has been left by many conquerors and legislators of infinitely greater genius. He was a man of that self-contained, self-reliant, unsympathetic type of mind which we recognize in his great predecessor Augustus. Continue reading “The foundation of Constantinople”
The Theodosian Walls of Constantinople
This post is mostly a photographic presentation of the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople (today Istanbul), Turkey. Continue reading “The Theodosian Walls of Constantinople”
Urban image of Constantinople in the ‘Middle Byzantine Period’
The History of Niketas Choniates has long been recognized for its value in reconstructing the urban image of Constantinople in the Middle Byzantine Period. Continue reading “Urban image of Constantinople in the ‘Middle Byzantine Period’”
Eastern Roman Empire: a rather tolerant and cosmopolitan medieval society – Muslims and mosques in Orthodox Constantinople
Here we present a selected part of the very interesting and informative essay “Byzantium and the West“, by Angeliki A. Laiou*. Continue reading “Eastern Roman Empire: a rather tolerant and cosmopolitan medieval society – Muslims and mosques in Orthodox Constantinople”
The Libraries in the Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) Empire (330-1453 AD)
After Constantine the Great established the imperial library, other types of libraries started to appear as well. Continue reading “The Libraries in the Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) Empire (330-1453 AD)”
Constantine the Great and the significance of his reign
The cultural and religious crisis through which the Roman Empire was passing in the fourth century is one of the most significant events in the history of the world. The old pagan culture came into collision with Christianity, which received official recognition during the reign of Constantine at the beginning of the fourth century and was declared the dominant State religion by Theodosius the Great at the end of that same century. Continue reading “Constantine the Great and the significance of his reign”