Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

2013 • BBC

5.0

1 review

Eligible

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Season 1 episodes (3)

1 Byzantium

5/12/13

Season-only

Simon Sebag Montefiore uncovers Istanbul's ancient Greek roots and maps its transformation into the imperial capital of a Christian empire by Emperor Constantine the Great.

2 Constantinople

12/12/13

Season-only

Simon reveals how a once glorious city was destroyed by enemies in the form of Christian crusaders, and the Ottoman Muslims who restored it to life as an imperial capital after the epic siege of 1453.

3 Istanbul

19/12/13

Season-only

Simon reveals how Istanbul became Islam's most powerful city, visits the great mosques and palaces, and tells stories of royal concubines, murderous bodyguards and depraved sultans.

About this show

Simon Sebag Montefiore uncovers the three identities of the City some call the Centre of the World. Byzantium, Constantinople and Istanbul. This one metropolis has been the capital city of three empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Each brought its own faiths, Gods and traditions, and each left its mark on the city in its architecture, traditions and in the living faith-communities who still populate this vast modern metropolis of 14 million people.

Ratings and reviews

5.0

1 review

Evie K

10 February 2019

Thank you, I thoroughly enjoy all your show!