Constantinople was able to withstand Muslim conquest for three key reasons: it was located on an easily defended point surrounded by water on two sides and rugged terrain; the city walls were thick and extensive; and they had Greek fire, a chemical weapon that burned upon impact and spread when doused with water. Charles Martel led European troops to stop Muslim advancement further into Europe at the Battle of Tours, earning him the name "the Hammer".

1. Confrontation with Islam

2. Muslim armies could not overpower
Constantinople
• Constantinople was the capital of Byzantine
Empire

3. 3 reasons Constantinople could not be
defeated
1. It was located on easily defended point
It was surrounded by water on two sides
and rugged terrain on the other

5. 2. City walls were thick and extensive

6. 3. Had Greek fire, which was chemical mixture
that burned on impact and spread when doused
with water

7. Battle of Tours
• Stopped the advancement of the Muslims in
Europe
• European troops were led by Charles Martel
• He is called “the Hammer”

9. Charles Martel

10. Ch. 2 Sec. 4
Discussion Question
• Why was the Byzantine Empire able to
withstand Muslim conquest from the seventh
through the tenth centuries?