Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and a charming capital connecting three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa, and it is also the crossroads of the three continents that guard the mouth of the Black Sea. The city is now an absolutely proud presence in the hearts of Turks, but it was once taboo among European populations.
Because, in the hearts of Westerners, Istanbul has another name: "Constantinople", however, this name has been dusted for many years. In 1453, the capital city of Constantinople fell, marking the official end of the Byzantine Empire, an Eastern Roman Empire that had existed for more than a thousand years, and thus the end of the European Middle Ages ?????.
Fall of Constantinople
Since Constantinople originally belonged to Europe, why did the European countries that became powerful after Europe entered the era of industrialization not retake Constantinople? The author believes that there are mainly the following reasons. First: The Byzantine Empire has long since died, and it is a difficult question as to which European country should take Constantinople back. The Byzantine Empire can be said to be the oldest country in the entire history of Europe, its territory spans three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa, and many European countries such as Italy, Spain, and France have "submitted" to the Byzantine Empire.
Map of Istanbul
In fact, many countries in Europe and North Africa at this time were more like Byzantine colonies, and from the 11th century to the 12th century, including many Principalities in Germany, the attack and plunder of the Byzantine Empire never stopped. By the end of the 13th century, the "Crusades" sounded the death knell of the Byzantine Empire, and the thousand-year-old empire eventually came to an end. Thus, not all Western countries had a respect for Byzantium, so they would not go to war for Constantinople.
Great views of Istanbul
Second: After entering the era of industrialization, the Western countries quickly grew into industrial powers, got rid of the medieval feudal form, and entered the Western countries of modern capitalism, their main goal is to establish their own colonies around the world, plunder overseas resources, and accumulate a lot of wealth. Although the Western countries that took advantage of this stage and greatly increased their strength could indeed turn Constantinople into their own colonies, it was undoubtedly difficult to conquer Constantinople compared with the invasion of Asia and Africa.
The defense of Constantinople was very strong, especially when the Ottoman Empire occupied it with artillery fire, the city's defense was once again strengthened; in addition, the military strength of the Ottoman Empire should not be underestimated, it once made the European countries tremble under their own iron hooves, so even the Western countries after entering the industrial age did not dare to attack Constantinople easily.
Defense of Constantinople in the 15th century
Third: After the fall of Constantinople in 1204, the Eastern and Western churches were completely divided, and contradictions that were completely impossible to reconcile appeared, and religious disputes prevented Constantinople from returning to Europe. The Byzantine Empire is actually another name for the Eastern Roman Empire, because of the unity and strength of the Byzantine Empire, in the Middle Ages, Romanians, Russians, Serbs, etc. have successively converted to the Greek Orthodox Church, that is, the Orthodox Church.
On the other hand, the Western Roman Empire fell into the hands of barbarians, forming deep cultural differences and religious opposition to the Eastern Roman Empire. The antagonism between the Eastern and Western churches of Christianity was ultimately manifested in the antagonism between the Church of Constantinople and the Church of Rome, and this deep-rooted church struggle finally led to a complete break between the East and the West. For this reason, Europe would not have any intention of retaking Constantinople.