7. Constantinople Important geographically because it was a land route from Asia to Europe, and connected the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. Silk an important trade. Important men and families came to live here from Rome. Capital of the Greek-speaking empire. Very much a Roman city from architecture to statues around the capital. Richest and largest European city due to its geographical positioning for trade. A tall wall surrounded the city for protection A City where before Constantine people believed in more than one god, and then with his transformation believed only in one Christian God.
8. Constantinople Aqueducts and Cisterns Lacking any local water supply, the aqueducts supplied the land with water. The aqueduct of Valen and the cisterns came before Constantine, but were very important in the empires survival.