By the time the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, most of the Byzantine Empire had already fallen. Why did the Ottomans believe it was important to take Constantinople?

Question

A.
The city was a center of Asian commerce and finance.
B.
The city was a symbol of Christian fame and power.
C.
The city's library held sacred Muslim texts.
D.
The city's prisons held many Muslim inmates.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. The city was a symbol of Christian fame and power.

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and held significant religious and cultural importance as a center of Christianity. By capturing it, the Ottomans aimed to establish their dominance and legitimize their rule over a historically significant Christian city, which also marked the definitive end of the Byzantine Empire.