The city of walls: Constantinople - Lars Brownworth

Summary

The video script narrates the significance of Constantinople's walls in shaping Western history. Built by Emperor Constantine at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the city was a center of culture and knowledge, protected by advanced fortifications. These walls, including a moat, outer wall, and inner wall, withstood numerous invasions until the Turks' massive cannon brought them down in 1453. The fall of Constantinople led to the spread of Greek knowledge to Western Europe, fueling the Renaissance and preserving our classical heritage.

Takeaways

• 🏰 Constantinople's Walls: The script discusses the significance of the walls surrounding Istanbul, historically known as Constantinople, which were pivotal in shaping Western history.
• 🌏 Strategic Location: The city was built at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, making it a hub for major trade routes and a cultural center.
• 🏛️ Cultural and Educational Hub: Constantinople was home to libraries and universities, and it preserved the knowledge of the classical world that was fading in the West.
• 🛡️ Advanced Defenses: The city had a series of advanced fortifications including a moat, outer and inner walls, and the use of Greek fire as a defensive weapon.
• 🔥 Greek Fire: An ancient form of napalm, Greek fire was a significant defensive weapon that could not be extinguished by water and was used to deter invaders.
• 🏹 Roman Defenders: Roman soldiers were equipped with portable flamethrowers and other weapons to protect the city from enemy attacks.
• 🚶‍♂️ Wide Walls: The inner walls were wide enough for four men to ride side by side, allowing for rapid troop movement and defense.
• 🤯 Failed Invasions: The script mentions several failed attempts to conquer Constantinople, including by Attila the Hun, the Avars, and the Turks.
• 💥 Ultimate Fall: Despite the formidable defenses, Constantinople eventually fell to the Turks in 1453 with the use of a massive cannon and continuous bombardment.
• 📚 Preservation of Knowledge: As the city fell, the inhabitants fled with precious books and traditions, which led to the rebirth of Greek learning in Western Europe and the Renaissance.
• 🌟 Legacy of Constantinople: The walls of Constantinople played a crucial role in preserving classical knowledge, which has been passed down to the present day.

Q & A

What was the significance of the walls surrounding Constantinople?

The walls surrounding Constantinople were significant because they protected the city, which was a center of knowledge and culture, and played a crucial role in the fate of Europe for a thousand years.

Why was Constantinople considered the center of the world during the Roman Empire?

Constantinople was considered the center of the world due to its strategic location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, being a hub of major trade routes, and housing libraries and universities that contained priceless classical knowledge.

What was the first line of defense built to protect Constantinople?

The first line of defense was a moat that was 60 feet wide and 22 feet deep, which stretched for four miles from coast to coast and could be filled with water at the first sign of an enemy.

What was the purpose of the short wall near the moat?

The short wall near the moat was designed to protect archers who could fire at the enemy soldiers trying to swim across the moat.

What was the role of the outer wall in the defense of Constantinople?

The 27-foot outer wall served as a second line of defense, from which defenders could launch an unceasing barrage of arrows, spears, and Greek fire onto attackers.

What was unique about the Greek fire used by the defenders of Constantinople?

Greek fire was an ancient form of napalm that would ignite on contact and could not be extinguished by water, making it a highly effective weapon against invaders.

How did the Romans use Greek fire to defend Constantinople?

Roman defenders used portable flame throwers to spray Greek fire on attackers trying to climb out of the moat, and also mounted siphons to launch clay pots full of Greek fire from catapults at invading armies.

What was the final defense mechanism if the outer wall of Constantinople was breached?

The final defense was the great inner wall, which was wide enough for four men to ride side by side, allowing for quick troop movement and reinforcement of any weak points.

Which historical figures attempted to conquer Constantinople and why did they fail?

Attila the Hun, the Avars, and the Arabs all attempted to conquer Constantinople but failed due to the city's formidable defenses, including the solid foundations of the walls and the strategic use of Greek fire.

How did the walls of Constantinople contribute to the Renaissance?

When Constantinople fell, survivors fled westward to Italy, bringing with them precious books and ancient traditions, which reintroduced Greek language and learning to Western Europe and ignited the Renaissance.

What was the ultimate fate of the walls of Constantinople?

The walls of Constantinople were finally brought down in 1453 by the Turks using a super weapon, a monster cannon that could fire a 1500-pound stone ball over a mile, after a month and a half of continuous bombardment.

Outlines

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🏰 The Impregnable Walls of Constantinople

The script discusses the significance of the walls surrounding Istanbul, historically known as Constantinople. Built by Emperor Constantine at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the city was a hub of culture and trade, housing invaluable classical knowledge. To safeguard this treasure, a series of formidable defenses were constructed, including a moat, outer and inner walls, and the use of Greek fire. These defenses withstood numerous invasions by Attila the Hun, the Avars, and the Arabs. However, the walls finally fell to the Turks in 1453 with the use of a massive cannon. The fall of Constantinople marked the end of the Roman Empire, but the legacy of its walls contributed to the Renaissance as scholars fled westward, bringing with them precious books and knowledge.

Keywords

💡Constantinople

Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, was the capital of the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Empire. It was strategically located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, making it a hub of major trade routes and a center of cultural and intellectual life. The city's significance in the video is highlighted by its role as the focal point of defense and culture for over a thousand years, influencing the fate of Europe.

💡Emperor Constantine

Emperor Constantine is a historical figure who founded the city of Constantinople and named it after himself. His vision was to create a city that would be the center of the world, and he built it with the intention of safeguarding the knowledge and culture of the classical world. In the video, his legacy is evident in the city's design and fortifications, which were instrumental in protecting the city for centuries.

💡Defensive fortifications

The defensive fortifications of Constantinople were a series of walls and moats designed to protect the city from invasions. These fortifications included a moat that was 60 feet wide and 22 feet deep, an outer wall that was 27 feet high, and an inner wall that was wide enough for four men to ride side by side. The fortifications were a testament to the city's strategic importance and played a crucial role in the video's narrative as they withstood numerous attacks over the centuries.

💡Greek fire

Greek fire was an ancient incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire, which the video describes as an ancient form of napalm. It was capable of igniting on contact and could not be extinguished by water, making it a formidable defensive tool. In the script, Greek fire is mentioned as a weapon that would rain down on attackers, turning the front lines into an inferno and symbolizing the city's advanced military technology.

💡Attila the Hun

Attila the Hun, referred to as the 'Scourge of God' in the video, was a ruler of the Huns and a feared enemy of the Roman Empire. His encounter with the walls of Constantinople is highlighted as a moment when even a formidable warrior was deterred by the city's defenses. Attila's decision to turn around upon seeing the walls underscores the effectiveness of Constantinople's fortifications.

💡The Avars

The Avars were a nomadic people who, according to the video, battled the walls of Constantinople without success. Their futile attempts to breach the city's defenses, including running out of rocks for their catapults, illustrate the resilience and strength of the city's fortifications, further emphasizing the theme of the city's impregnability.

💡The Turks

The Turks, as mentioned in the video, attempted to tunnel under the walls of Constantinople but found the foundations too solid. This detail highlights the engineering prowess behind the city's defenses and the relentless efforts of various enemies to conquer it. The Turks' failure to penetrate the walls adds to the narrative of the city's enduring strength.

💡The Arabs

The Arabs, as described in the script, attempted to starve Constantinople into submission but ended up resorting to cannibalism due to their own lack of food. This episode underscores the city's ability to withstand sieges and the lengths to which its enemies were willing to go in their attempts to conquer it.

💡Super weapon

The term 'super weapon' in the video refers to the massive cannon used by the Turks in 1453 to finally breach the walls of Constantinople. This weapon could fire a 15 hundred pound stone ball over a mile, symbolizing the shift in warfare technology and the changing tides of power. The use of this super weapon marked a turning point in the city's history.

💡Constantine XI

Constantine XI was the last Roman Emperor, as mentioned in the video. His bravery is depicted in the script as he drew his sword and leaped into the gap created by the breached walls to confront the invaders. His actions symbolize the end of an era and the fall of the Roman Empire, marking a significant historical event.

💡Renaissance

The Renaissance, as highlighted in the video, was a cultural movement that began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe. The fall of Constantinople and the subsequent flight of its scholars and their precious books to Italy played a crucial role in reintroducing Greek language and learning to Western Europe, thus igniting the Renaissance. This connection underscores the enduring impact of Constantinople's walls and the city's contribution to the preservation of classical knowledge.

Highlights

The walls of Constantinople were crucial for the fate of Europe for a thousand years.

Constantinople was envisioned as the center of the world by Emperor Constantine.

The city was relocated to the East during the decline of the Roman Empire in the 4th Century.

Constantinople was a hub of trade and culture, with libraries and universities.

The city was 20 times larger than London or Paris at the time.

Constantinople held the priceless knowledge of the classical world.

Defensive fortifications were built to protect the city from its enemies.

A 60-foot wide and 22-foot deep moat was the first line of defense.

Archers were protected by a short wall and could fire at enemies crossing the moat.

Greek fire, an ancient form of napalm, was used to deter attackers.

Roman defenders used portable flamethrowers to repel invaders.

Clay pots filled with Greek fire were launched at invading armies.

The great inner wall was the final defense, wide enough for four men to ride side by side.

Attila the Hun, the Scourge of God, retreated after seeing the walls.

The Avars, Turks, and Arabs all failed to breach the walls.

The walls were finally brought down by the Turks' super weapon in 1453.

The last Roman Emperor, Constantine XI, fought bravely but the city fell.

The fall of Constantinople led to the rebirth of Greek learning in Western Europe and the Renaissance.

The walls' legacy preserved the classical past for future generations.

Transcripts

Translator: tom carter Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar

The most important walls in western history aren't even in the West.

They surround the modern city of Istanbul, Constantinople as the Romans called it.

And for a thousand years, the fate of Europe depended on them.

Constantinople was designed to be the center of the world.

When the frontiers of the Roman Empire began to crumble in the 4th Century,

the capital was moved to the cultured, wealthy, and still stable East.

There, at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, the hub of the major trade routes of the ancient world,

the Emperor Constantine built his city.

This was the city of libraries and universities,

20 times the size of London or Paris at the time.

It contained the priceless knowledge of the classical world which was fading in the West.

To protect this masterpiece from its many enemies,

Constantine's successors built the finest defensive fortifications ever made.

The first line of protection was a moat 60 feet wide and 22 feet deep,

stretching all four miles from coast to coast.

Pipes from inside the city could fill it at the first sight of the enemy,

and a short wall protected archers who could fire at the soaked soldiers trying to swim across.

Those who were lucky enough to clear the moat had to contend with an unceasing barrage from the 27 foot outer wall above.

Arrows, spears, or far worse, Greek fire -- an ancient form of napalm that would ignite on contact

and couldn't be extinguished by water -- would rain down on them.

Squads of Roman defenders would carry portable flame throwers,

spraying anyone trying to climb out of the moat.

The terrified victims would leap back, only to find that they still burned underwater.

At times, the Romans would also mount siphons onto the ramparts,

and launch clay pots full of Greek fire from catapults at an invading army.

The front lines would turn into an inferno,

making it appear as if the earth itself was on fire.

If, by some miracle, the outer wall was compromised,

attackers would be faced with the final defense: the great inner wall.

These walls were wide enough to have four men ride side by side,

allowing troops to be rushed wherever they were needed.

Attilla the Hun, destroyer of civilizations, who named himself the Scourge of God,

took one look at them and turned around.

The Avars battled the walls uselessly til their catapults ran out of rocks.

The Turks tried to tunnel under them, but found the foundations too solid.

The Arabs tried to starve the city into submission,

but ran out of food themselves and had to resort to cannibalism.

It took the guns of the modern world to finally bring them down.

In 1453, the Turks brought their super weapon:

a monster cannon that could fire a 15 hundred pound stone ball over a mile.

Together with more than a hundred smaller guns,

they kept up a steady bombardment day and night.

A section of the old walls collapsed, but even in their death throes they proved formidable.

The rubble absorbed the shock of the cannonballs better than the solid wall.

It took a month and a half of continuous blasting to finally open a breach.

The last Roman Emperor, Constantine the 11th, drew his sword

and jumped into the gap to stop the onrushing horde,

disappearing into legend.

The city was taken, and the Roman Empire finally disappeared.

But those broken walls had one last gift.

As the survivors fled the doomed city, they brought with them their precious books and their ancient traditions.

They traveled west to Italy, reintroduced the Greek language and learning to western Europe, and ignited the Renaissance.

Thanks to Constantinople's walls, that pile of brick and marble that guarded them for so long,

we still have our classical past.