Emperor Justinian– Emperor Justinian, also known as Justinian the Great, was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 527 to 565. Justinian is sometimes referred to as “the last Roman” and he is known for restoring the Empire. Part of Emperor Justinian’s legacy was the rewriting of Corpus Juris Civilis (Roman Law), which is “still the basis of civil law in many modern states”. Byzantine culture “blossomed” under Emperor Justinian and his building program led to the creation of many important landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia.

Mehmet the Conqueror– Mehmet the Conqueror was the Sultan (power figure) of the Ottoman Empire twice from 1444 to 1446 and from 1451 to 1481. He is responsible for ending the Byzantine Empire and transforming the Ottoman state to an empire.

Mausoleums of the Sultans– The mausoleums of the Sultans are

located in Instanbul near the Ayasofia and the Ancient RomanCistern. There are five mausoleums and each of them are dedicated to the families of different Sultans. One of the mausoleums was where Murad III “was said to have fathered over a hundred children” (Brown 87).

The Fountain of Ablutions– The fountain of ablutions is located in the Hagia Sophia and was added in 1740. It was originally used by Muslims to wash themselves before they went to pray during the time that the Hagia Sophia was a mosque.

The tomb of Enrico Dandolo– Enrico Dandolo was the 42^nd

Doge of Venice from 1192 until his death. He is known for his “blindness, piety, longevity, shrewdness, his infamous role in the Fourth Crusade, and the sack of Constantinople”. Enrico Dandolo’s tomb is located in the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.

Alexandra Fields

afields@middlebury.edu