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11. Byzantium - Last of the Romans

Fall of Civilizations Podcast

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The Great Cannon Basilica

The great cannon basilica was terrifically inaccurate, but when it landed a hit, the destruction it caused was immense. It could only be fired three times a day since it had to be cooled between each shot to prevent the barrel from cracking. The venetian nicolo barbaro remembers the frantic attempts to repair the walls as the bombardment rained down on the city. But when the thunder of its explosions sounded, the citizens of constantinople must have ducked down and looked up to their ancient walls in fear if they would hold.

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