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Name
Class
Date
History and Geography
The Fall of Rome
Constantinople
Emperor Constantine took power over the entire Roman Empire in 324.
Constantine moved the empire’s capital from Rome to the east into
what is now Turkey. He built a fine new city on the site of the former
Greek city of Byzantium. He called it Constantinople, which means “city
of Constantine.” Constantinople was located on a peninsula between the
borders of Europe and Asia. It became the crossing point for trade routes
between the two continents. The city grew very rich because the area
collected tolls from those who sailed across the Bosporus Strait, the
narrow channel between Europe and Asia Minor, to get to either
continent.
N
W
EE
S
EUR OP E
GREECE
ASIA MINOR
Aegean
Sea
0
0
50
50
100 Miles
100 Kilometers
MAP ACTIVITY
1. Use a bright color to highlight the area of Constantinople.
2. What is the major body of water located to the northeast of Constantinople?
Label it on the map.
3. What is the body of water that lies between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea?
Label it on the map.
4. What is the name of the strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea? Label
it on the map.
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The Fall of Rome
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Name
Class
Constantinople, continued
Date
History and Geography
5. Update the map legend to reflect the colors you added to the map.
ANALYZING MAPS
1. Place What is the name of Constantinople today?
2. Location On what type of land mass was Constantinople located?
3. Place Why do you think Constantinople’s location influenced its growth and
financial success?
4. Location What was one disadvantage of Constantinople’s location?
EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Review the chapter on the Fall of Rome. Write down the words “The
Fall of Rome” in the center of a sheet of blank paper. Now, see how
many words you can build from these letters that describe what led
to the fall of Rome. See the example below. Begin to write your words
going up or down, and then build on the new words that you add.
D
I
S
THE FALL OF ROME
A
A
X
S
E
E
S
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The Fall of Rome
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Answer Key
Primary Source The
Nika Rebellion, Part 1
by Procopius
3. Because Constantinople was located on
the water, between both Europe and Asia,
traders and others had to travel through
the city in order to reach either continent.
The people from Constantinople could
collect tolls from these travelers, which
gave them more money and other goods.
4. Constantinople was subject to raids from
both the east and the west. Its easy access
was due to its location between two seas.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. He shows them as being bloodthirsty and
violent.
2. People outside are rioting, and the
emperor is afraid that he and other leaders
will be harmed.
3. Students may suggest a variety of actions:
leave the city, have Hypatius killed, hide
out until things calm down, work out
some agreement with Hypatius and his
backers.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Students’ answers will vary. Sample answers
include: corruption, Attila the Hun, raids,
barbarians, size, communication, religion.
Economics and History
Primary Source The
Nika Rebellion, Part 2
by Procopius
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1.
2.
3.
4.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Procopius thought Theodora was
important enough to include her speech
in the story. He says her speech inspired
those who heard it, meaning she was a
powerful person.
2. Answers may vary. Justinian needed to
gain back their loyalty for political
reasons. Justinian wanted to make up for
the terrible slaughter in the hippodrome.
3. Students will choose different actors in the
story but should defend their choice with
support from the reading.
Social Studies Skills
PRACTICE THE SKILL
Theodora, bold and brave, persuaded Justinian
to stand and fight rioters, rather than running
away. Without her counsel, his reign might
have ended in 532.
History and Geography
APPLY THE SKILL
Constantinople’s location made it a great
trading center between Europe and Asia. As a
consequence, it absorbed many new ideas and
influences from outside.
MAP ACTIVITY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
900,000; 300,000; 1,500,000
4,063,000;1,354,333; 6,771,667
6,944,000; 2,314,667; 11,573,333
The 5:3 slaves to citizens estimate would
most support the notion that the size of
the slave population, combined with the
potential for slave revolts, was one of the
factors that led to the fall of Rome.
Colors will vary.
Black Sea
Marmara Sea
Bosporus Strait
Colors will vary, but colors on the legend
should match the ones students used on
the map.
Chapter Review
REVIEWING VOCABULARY, TERMS,
AND PEOPLE
1.
2.
3.
4.
ANALYZING MAPS
1. Istanbul
2. a peninsula
Justinian
corruption
Byzantine
Diocletian
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
35
The Fall of Rome