Byzantium: The History of the Ancient Greek City Before It Became Constantinople

Byzantium may have reached its zenith during the Middle Ages as Constantinople, but it had previously stood out among Greek and other ancient cities for its wealth, size, and strategic location. It is probable that given the location, if the Megarans had not founded their city where they did, another Greek polis would have. It is equally probable that any city in that area would have enjoyed success from the wealth generated from its involvement in the key two-way trade between the Greek states and their numerous colonies around the Black Sea and the increasing general east-west trade between the Roman Empire and the exotic lands to the east.

Byzantium’s position as guardian of the Bosphorus gave it advantages that stood the city in good stead for thousands of years and consolidated the city as an intercontinental and international trading hub. Inevitably, such a vibrant international center produced many creative thinkers, and Byzantium was the birthplace or home to such figures as Homerus, a tragedian who lived in the early 3rd century BCE. Another overlooked figure was Philo, an engineer who lived from 280-220 BCE and is known as Philo Mechanicus. Although he was primarily an engineer, he was also a physicist and writer on mechanics. His most important work was the huge Syntaxis, which contained sections on general mathematics, mechanics, harbor construction, siege engine construction, pneumatics, mechanical toys, and coding for military use. The military sections Belopoeica and Poliorcetica survived, and they detailed how to build missiles, construct fortresses, and how to properly provision an army.

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Lydbog: 19. november 2024