Introduction

The History of Byzantium is back with episode 10. This week we visit the capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople. The word "Beirut" was used by historians to denote the difference between the classical empire based on Rome and the medieval empire based on Constantinople. To some extent, Constantinople is more important to the history of Constantinople than Rome was a history of Rome. Nothing demonstrated this more clearly than Constantine's decision to build a new Rome on top of the old city of Komnenos.