Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities
Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities is a three-part BBC documentary series presented by Simon Sebag Montefiore, tracing the sacred history of Istanbul. Known as the
'city of the world's desire', it's a place that has been the focus of passion for believers of three different faiths - Paganism, Christianity and Islam - and for nearly
3,000 years its streets have been the battleground for some of the fiercest political and religious conflicts in history.
Simon Sebag Montefiore charts the rise of Istanbul from pagan trading post to capital of three empires and two religions, becoming not only holy but the most coveted city in the world.
| Episode 1 - From Byzantium to Constantinople |
Episode 1 - From Byzantium to Constantinople
This episode uncovers the city's ancient Greek roots, maps its transformation into the imperial capital of a Christian empire by Emperor Constantine the Great and reveals how ecclesiastical clashes forced Eastern and Western Churches apart.
Episode 2 - From Constantinople to Istanbul
This episode explores modern Istanbul in search of the last desperate centuries of Christian Byzantium, in which the once glorious city was buffeted by enemies in both East and West, and yet still produced a golden artistic renaissance.
Episode 3 - Capital of a New Empire
Simon Sebag Montefiore looks at how Istanbul became Islam's most powerful city. Visiting the great mosques and palaces built by the Ottoman emperors, he tells the stories behind them - of royal concubines, murderous bodyguards and sultans both the powerful and the depraved.
| Related Links |
| Istanbul - wikipedia Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. |
| Byzantium: The Lost Empire This is a four-part documentary series narrated by John Romer, telling the glory and history of the ancient, legendary empire of Byzantium. |
| The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors This is a three-part BBC documentary series presented by Rageh Omaar, tracing the history of the Ottoman empire. |
| Crusades This is a four-part documentary series presented by Terry Jones, recounting the Crusades by exploring the lives of pivotal figures, the technology and the politics of the era. |
| Ancient Megastructures - Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Discover how the church of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, rebuilt by the Roman Emperor Justinian, has survived 1,500 years of turbulent history. |