Documentary, Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities 1 of 3
Byzantium: A Tale of Three #Cities" is a 2013 BBC documentary series presented by historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, exploring the history and transformation of the city known as Byzantium, Constantinople, and Istanbul. Episode 3 focuses on how Istanbul rose to become the powerful, Islamic imperial capital of the Ottoman Empire after the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. The episode covers the great mosques and palaces built by Ottoman emperors, stories of sultans and concubines, and the city's transformation under the new secular vision of Ataturk in the 20th century.
What the series covers:
Episode 1:
The origins of the city as the ancient Greek fishing port of Byzantium, focusing on how it gained prominence and became a Christian holy city.
Episode 2:
The story of the Christian Byzantine city during its final centuries, including the devastating sack of the city by the crusaders and its eventual fall to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.
Episode 3:
The rise of Istanbul as an Islamic imperial capital under the Ottoman Empire, detailing the construction of its magnificent mosques and palaces and the lives of the rulers.
Key themes explored in the series:
Three Empires, One City:
The city's role as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.
Three Faiths:
Its journey from paganism to Christianity to Islam.
Battleground of Faiths:
The constant political and religious conflicts that have shaped its history.
Legacy and Transformation:
How each empire and faith left its indelible mark on the city's architecture, traditions, and inhabitants.
#ByzantiumTaleofThreeCities #Byzantium #Documentary
