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Istanbul, Turkey: Hagia Sophia - Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide - Travel Bite

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Chapter 2: The Byzantine Empire (330-1453)                    

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Chapter 2: The Byzantine Empire (330-1453)                    

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Introduction
Picture: The Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia dominates the skyline of Istanbul in present-day Turkey. Originally built as a church by a Byzantine emperor, it later became a mosque and is now a museum.

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Video: The Rise and Fall of the Byzantine Empire

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Video: The Rise and Fall of the Byzantine Empire

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The rise and fall of the Byzantine Empire - Leonora Neville

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1.1 The Geography of the Byzantine Empire

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1.1 The Geography of the Byzantine Empire

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The Western Roman Empire fell in A.D. 476, but that’s not the end of its story. For a thousand years after that date, the glory of Rome lived on in the Byzantine Empire.

MAIN IDEA

The Byzantine Empire was well located for trade but open to attack.

Picture: The Byzantine Empire AD 527-565

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There’s a popular saying that two heads are better than one. This was certainly true of Justinian’s reign. Justinian became Byzantium’s greatest emperor thanks in part to the support and intelligence of his wife, Theodora.

MAIN IDEA

Justinian and Theodora ruled over a golden age for Byzantium.

Picture: This sixth-century mosaic shows Justinian in the center with religious leaders on his right and government officials on his left.

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Hagia Sophia means “Church of Holy Wisdom.” It was officially blessed on this date. The emperor Justinian spent a lot of money in its building and decoration. In just six years 10,000 workers erected the largest and most magnificent church on Earth. The altar was made of gold and silver and had many jewels in it. There were 300 golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Great golden mosaics decorated the walls. The Hagia Sophia, which still stands, is considered a great achievement in architecture. The centerpiece of the big building is its extraordinary brick dome. The dome is 182 feet high and 100 feet across. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the Hagia Sophia was made into a mosque—an Islamic place of worship. Today, it is a museum. In Justinian’s time, the church stood for Byzantine power and wealth.

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You had to like people to enjoy living in Constantinople. It was the world’s largest city, with its 500,000 inhabitants packed tightly together. The people of the city considered it the new Rome.

MAIN IDEA

Constantinople was a lively capital city modeled on ancient Rome.

Picture: CONSTANTINOPLE: THE HEART OF THE EMPIRE

Constantinople was the vibrant center of the Byzantine Empire. Beginning with Constantine, the emperors adorned the city with numerous churches, monuments, and civic buildings. Every day, thousands of people from all around the ancient world thronged the streets, buying, selling, and socializing.

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 Picture: SPORTS, POLITICS, AND PASSIONS

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 Picture: SPORTS, POLITICS, AND PASSIONS

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The people of Byzantium passionately followed the sport of chariot racing. More than just entertainment, the races were a focus of life and politics in the city. The people were bitterly divided in their support of the two main chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens. Races were an emotional standoff between supporters who often became violent. Justinian and Theodora both supported the Blues.