Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Original version

BBC Four

BBC 4

BBC Four HD

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Graham Johnson

Mike Smith

Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities: Episode 3

Documentaries

Episode 3

BBC Four - Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities, Episode 3

Simon Sebag Montefiore looks at how Istanbul became Islam's most powerful city.

Visiting the great mosques and palaces built by the Ottoman emperors, Simon Sebag Montefiore looks at how Istanbul became the imperial capital and Islam's most powerful city.

Simon discovers surprises in Istanbul as it rose to become the imperial capital and Islam's most powerful city. Visiting the great mosques and palaces built by the Ottoman emperors, he tells the stories behind them - of royal concubines, murderous bodyguards and sultans both the powerful and the depraved. He shows how the Christians, Muslims and Jews of the city once co-existed before the waves of nationalist rebellions brought the Ottoman empire to its knees. In the 20th century the ancient capital was once more transformed by the new secular vision of Ataturk.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Factual: History

Series in which historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the sacred history of Istanbul.

Simon Sebag Montefiore charts the rise of Istanbul from pagan trading post to capital of three empires and two religions, becoming not only holy but the most coveted city in the world.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Episode 3

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Four

About BBC Four