Sparta, Greece
7t
Sparta, Greece
1400 BCE
Zakros, Greece
1900 BC
Troizinia-Methana, Greece
7th century BCE
Corfu, Greece
600 BCE
Noto, Italy
8th century BCE
Kritsa, Greece
400-300 BC
Syracuse, Italy
402-397 BCE
Gela, Italy
8th century BCE
Achaea, Greece
1300 BCE
Embonas, Greece
3000-1000 BCE
Corinth, Greece
2000 BCE
Poros, Greece
520 BCE
Arcadia, Greece
4th century BCE
Capo Colonna, Italy
480-440 BCE
Vai, Greece
700 BC
Augusta, Italy
728 BCE
Aidone, Italy
5th century BCE
San Giuseppe Jato, Italy
6th century BC
Lemnos, Greece
500 BCE
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.