Kucuk Ayasofya church – Rome, Hellenism and Orient had unified here in a unique, and never imitate bled monument. Apart from the Kucuk Ayasofya church, Hagia Eirene Church, the Underground Palace (Yerebatan Sarayi) and Binbirdirek are what have survived since those glittering days. First, however; Haghia Sophia, the church of “the divine wisdom”, is the most significant indicator of the power and splendor of the Justinian period.
In spite of the internal competition and the threat of rapidly spreading Islam, the commercial power in Bosporus stayed as the most magnificent and great focus point of the Medieval age until the 13^ century. However, it was also the center of competition of noble dynasties struggling to rule this power, a corrupted administration, several intrigues and horrifying murders. After the Byzantine army had been defeated in Malazgirt in 1071, Asia Minor was taken by Selcuks; this was the first sign for the coming catastrophe of the East Roman Empire.
Constantinople experienced
Kucuk Ayasofya church – In 1204, Constantinople experienced the most hurtful stroke of its history; the Fourth Crusade armies led by Venetian Duke Enrico Dandolo backed by Venetian Navy, passed the Golden Horn barrier and plundered the invaluable masterpieces of the richest city of the era, for 58 days. That was when the city of Constantine and Justinian had fallen down. After the short rule of “Latin” Crusade State in 12 61, Constantinople lived its second best period during the paleographer emperors’ period. Marvellous mosaics, the frescoes at Kariye and Fethiye Mosques have survived from those days until today.
The Ottomans passed the Dardanelles in r 354 and stepped into the European land for the first time in Gallipoli. Bursa replaced Edirne as the new capital in 1361. The Christian- Orthodox Constantinople had already become an island in the sea of Muslims. In 14 5 2, Constantinople was totally isolated from the Black Sea commerce by the construction of Rumeli Hisari fortresses in a time span as short as two months. The Europeans did not react while the Byzantines were trapped.
