The city that served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire was Constantinople. Founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in 330 AD, it was strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, facilitating trade and cultural exchange. The city, originally named Byzantium, became a center of Christianity, art, and learning, thriving as the seat of power for many centuries. Its formidable fortifications and unique architecture, including the Hagia Sophia, demonstrate its historical significance. Constantinople remained the capital until its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and altering the course of history in the region.