The city that was the focal point of the Byzantine Empire was Constantinople. Founded by Emperor Constantine the Great in 330 CE, Constantinople became the capital of the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Empire. Its strategic location on the Bosporus Strait made it a vital trade hub between Europe and Asia and a significant cultural center. The city was renowned for its architectural grandeur, including the Hagia Sophia, and served as a bastion of Christian civilization. Despite its eventual fall to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, Constantinople’s legacy as a center of art, science, and religion continues to resonate in history.