Byzantium was an ancient Greek city founded by colonists from Megalopolis in 657 BC. Situated at the European side of the Bosporus (the strait connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara), the city was strategically located on the trade routes between Europe and Asia, making it a significant commercial center from its early days.
Initially, Byzantium was a member of the Delian League, an alliance led by Athens in the 5th century BC. However, it revolted against Athenian dominance, leading to its capture by Athens in 478 BC. Over the centuries, Byzantium was successively ruled by various powers:
In 330 AD, the city was renamed Constantinople by Constantine the Great when he made it the new capital of the Roman Empire, marking the beginning of the Byzantine Empire. This event is considered a pivotal moment in the transformation from the ancient Roman world to the medieval period.
Byzantium was not only a commercial hub but also a cultural crossroads. Its strategic location contributed to its wealth and influence, which continued through the Byzantine era:
The city's decline began with the rise of new powers and internal strife within the Byzantine Empire. Byzantium was eventually conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453, when Mehmed the Conqueror captured Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.