The original capital of the Byzantine Empire was Byzantium, which later became known as Constantinople after its re-establishment by Emperor Constantine the Great in 330 AD. Positioned strategically between Europe and Asia, Constantinople served as a crucial hub for trade and culture, bridging the East and West. Its formidable defensive walls and strategic location helped it become one of the most prosperous cities in history. The city remained the capital of the Byzantine Empire until its fall to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, marking the end of the Byzantine era and the beginning of Ottoman dominance in the region.