Few singular events in history are pivotal in the course of human history. Most pivot points in history are instead long and drawn out over periods of time for change to occur. The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 A.D. is not one of them. The day that Constantinople was captured was a day that would live in infamy in the minds of Europeans for years to come. The siege and the consequential capture by the Ottomans was quite sudden for Europe, considering the great city stood for a millennia and a half, at least in Christian and Roman hands before its capture. Though the capture of Constantinople may have been inevitable from the get-go, this fact does not make the event any less significant to European history. The fall of Constantinople, though it may not have considered to have happened in Europe, was by far the most important event that ever happened to Europe in the Renaissance. Before discussion of the aftereffects of Constantinople’s capture by the Ottomans can begin one must understand the circumstances leading up to the fateful event. For years, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire had been in decline, especially after the occupation of the Latin Empire in the infamous Fourth Crusade, where the crusaders had completely sacked the city and occupied the Empire for half of a century starting in 1204 A.D.. After the Latin Empire was driven out by a resurgent Byzantine Empire headed by the Palaiologoi Dynasty in 1259 A.D., many steps were made
John Julius Norwich states that the Byzantines “ saved western civiliation.” and which their victory in defeating the Arabs “ all Europe - and America - might be Muslim today. “ (Document A) Without their fight against the Arabs Christianity would of never existed today. The chart compiled from The World Fact Book demonstrates the eastern portion of the orthodox christianity around the world and it’s split of the rome and christian church because of “ spiritual interpretations of the bible “ and “ the refusal… to accept the supreme authority of the pope.”
During the Early Middle Ages the Roman Empire suffered many lost but were not destroyed by the constant warfare from the north. Civil war inside Roman Empire cause Rome to decline and less could not protect itself. They were lots of invasions and warfare throughout the Early Middle Ages. At the time Constantinople was the greatest city in the Christianity and Islamic world. Constantine legalizes Christianity which people seek salvation, and withdrawal from the comfort of the world.
The Byzantine Empire and Western Europe originally were part of the Roman Empire, but by the middle Ages(medieval times), they were very different, even though they did share some common traits, but by the 300's, the Byzantine Empire had far surpassed Western Europe in trade and economics and political unity, while both empires were having arguments over religion.
This was a bad scene when the Catholics were fighting against the Eastern Orthodox leading to the conquer of Byzantine, capital of Constantinople. This lead to the Turkish Muslims to advance towards Europe which resulted in the fall of Eastern Europe.
Following the decline of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, a new empire rose up in the ashes. This new empire, the Byzantine Empire, was a culmination of Western Roman cultures and tradition, yet, it also contains many distinctive features. Originating from the same empire, the two empires display similar cultural roots.
After the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453, the Islamic government recognized the ecumenical patriarch of that city as both the religious and the political spokesman for the entire Christian population of the empire. With the decline of the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century, the patriarchate of Constantinople, although still retaining its honorary primacy in the Orthodox Church, lost its political power over the other Orthodox churches. With the liberation of the Orthodox peoples from Ottoman rule, a succession of autocephalous churches was then set up in Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia.
The Latin forces were away fighting near the Black Sea. When the Latins realized that Michael had taken control of Constantinople, they fled the area. This ended the period of Latin rule and restored the Byzantine Empire. he effect of the Latins on the Byzantine Empire, however, was devastating; it never fully recovered. Indeed, the plundering of Constantinople was so extensive that the resulting damage was only partially repaired even 50 years later. During the mid-500s, the bubonic plague attacks the Byzantine empire, weakening the empire’s military and economy.Justinian I dies in 565 CE. He leaves the Byzantine army scattered across the empire and the empire in serious financial trouble.The Slavs raid the Byzantine empire during the late 500s. In the late 500s and early 600s, the Lombards conquer Byzantine territory in northern Italy. The Avars attack Constantinople in 626 CE and are defeated. The Arabs attack Constantinople in 674 CE and 717 CE and are defeated both times.In 811 CE, the Bulgars crush the Byzantine army and kill the Byzantine empire.In 813 CE, the Bulgars lay siege on Constantinople but are defeated. During the 1100s, after the first Crusade, many Latins settle in the Byzantine Empire. Resentment between the Byzantines and Latins grows. During the 1100s, Venice gains control over many Byzantine trading routes. Resentment between the Byzantines and Latins grows. During the Fourth Crusade, crusaders (mostly Latins) and
Although there are many empires in history that influenced the modern world, the Byzantine Empire is one of the most important to learn about. This empire defeated many areas to help spread the religion. In Document A, the information explains that if they hadn't defeated the Persians, Avars, and Arabs most of the world may be Muslim. In other words, if one of these empires conquered the Byzantine empire than all of Europe and most of American along with the rest of the world, would be the Islamic religion, rather than Christianity, Jewish or other religions. We should also study the Byzantine empire because it had a very efficient and advanced defensive system for that time period.
“Thus, in April 1204, the crusaders and Venetians stormed Constantinople, sacked the city, destroying its magnificent library, and grabbed thousands of relics that were later sold in Europe…” This is important because they don't care of what religion the others are in. They want everyone to be part of their religion. If they do surrender and try to join their religion, the crusaders will sometimes just kill them. This states that the crusades were a negative influence on the civilians and different religions by slaughtering them and destroying their most valuable, precious items and where they lived, left in
Turkish slaughter of 3000 Christians in the Holy City was the beginning of the long, awful number of brutal events in the Crusades. After the Emperor of The Byzantine, was menaced by the Seljuk Turks, he was forced to request aid from the west, and the Western European’s reply was instantaneous, “On November 1095, Pope Urban II calls for a Ccrusade in a famous speech at the Council Of Clermont” (Cline). The appeal by Pope Urban II was the thing that lit up the beginning of the First Crusade, putting a will to fight in the heart of the Christians, to recover the Holy Lands. Although there were nine crusades in total. People are likely to consider the first crusade to be the most important, because it was the beginning of the Crusades.
This is (important/interesting/relevant) The attack of the Byzantine Capital had no responsibility as well as weren’t included for the Crusades. The depressing result as why they attacked the Capital was for the treasures they had in store as the soldiers made themselves fall into the evil of greed.As it represents, the Crusaders in both sides were responsible and were never held accountable for their actions of brutal and insightful murders due to the beliefs and biases those people had for
I don't know if I am right but in my opinion I think is really negative because in April 1204, the crusaders and Venetians stormed Constantinople, sacked the city, destroying its magnificent library, and grabbed thousands of relics that were later sold on Europe.
Constantinople great Christian city that had been seized and controlled by the Muslim Ottoman sultan Mehmed II in 1453. This event marked the final end of the Roman/Byzantine Empire and the ascendency of the Ottoman Empire. The byzantine was a stronghold for Christianity and had ruled for eleven hundred years.
The fall of Constantinople in 1453 was one of the most influential events in history and marked the end of the Byzantine Empire. The main effect of the fall of Constantinople in 1453 was the downfall of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. The city was mainly populated by Christians and now has become an Islamic city. The capture of Constantinople stated the end of the Roman Empire, which lasted for about one thousand five hundred years. The invasion of the city of Constantinople and the end of the Byzantine Empire marked the end of the Middle Ages.
The Ottoman Empire is almost directly correlated to the decline of Byzantium. The Ottomans had men stationed in nearly 100 forts and 100 castles. Doing this enabled him to maintain pressure on the Christian infidels out east. The Ottoman Empire had not had their own foothold until around 1354, when they got a hold of a peninsula roughly 100 miles southwest of Constantinople. When this was accomplished, it was recognized that the time of the Ottomans conquering Constantinople was edging closer and closer. Using their superiority, intellect and vast numbers the Ottomans attacked the weakest part of the Byzantine defense, the west walls of Constantinople. The Ottoman Empire was very strong and some had seen them as bullies.