Siege of Constantinople (717–718)

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/siege-of-constantinople-717718

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location of the siege?Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire
2. What is the duration of the siege?Approximately 13 months, from 717 to August 15, 718 AD
3. What was the Great Wall that helped save the city?The city had Theodosian Walls, a triple line of fortifications that were very tall, like skyscrapers, and stopped the enemy army.
4. How did the secret weapon help the city?The Byzantines used Greek fire, a sticky liquid that burned ships, to scare the enemy navy and keep the city supplied.

Umayyad Caliphate: The second of the four major Islamic caliphates, known for its vast territorial expansion and administrative reforms.
Byzantine Empire: The Eastern Roman Empire, which persisted for over a millennium after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Greek Fire: A highly destructive incendiary weapon, unique to the Byzantine navy, whose exact composition remains a historical mystery.
Theodosian Walls: An extensive system of defensive fortifications surrounding Constantinople, renowned for their engineering and effectiveness.