LESSON 4.4 What caused the fall of Constantinople?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to describe the technical and strategic aspects of the Siege of Constantinople.
Tune in The rulers of Constantinople had built and maintained strong defenses, which were constantly being improved and strengthened. SOURCE1 shows the major defenses protecting the city. Study SOURCE1 and imagine you are planning to attack the city. Discuss some initial thoughts about how you might overcome the defenses and consider why they have been placed where they are.
SOURCE1 A map of Constantinople showing its major defences
Palace
Road to Edirne
Chain to block entry to Golden Horn when attacked
Church of the Holy Apostles
Hagia Sophia
MARMARA
SEA
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1
2
kilometres
Source: Map drawn by Spatial Vision.
4.4.1 Defenses at Constantinople After a brief period of instability at the beginning of the fifteenth century, the influence and power of the Ottoman Empire continued to spread. By the time Sultan Mehmet II gained control in 1444, the Ottomans had occupied much of eastern Europe, including the land around the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. The jewel of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople had been controlled by the Byzantines for nearly thirteen centuries. The city held strategic importance in the region and was also a symbol of Christianity in eastern Europe. For these reasons, it was a city that Mehmet II simply had to capture.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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