Constantinople, also known as Byzantium and modern-day Istanbul, is a historic city located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. It was founded in 324 AD by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who chose it as the new capital of the Roman Empire. Constantinople quickly grew in importance and became a center of trade, culture, and religion. It was also the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which emerged after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Constantinople was known for its impressive architecture, including the Hagia Sophia, which was one of the largest churches in the world and is now a museum. The city was also home to the Hippodrome, a massive public entertainment venue, and the iconic Basilica Cistern, an underground water reservoir. Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire until it was renamed Istanbul in the early 20th century.
Photography: Walter Somers
