Rome's Citizen's Reactions To The Moving Of The Capital To Constantinople.?

Question

Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Constantinople. How did the move of the capital effect rome and it's citizens?

Answer 1

Actually, he didn't. he moved the capital of the Eastern Empire to Constantinople. The capital of the Empire in the West remained in Italy. The later Emperors, however, left Rome and made their capital in Ravenna. In the later 4th century there were Eastern and Western Emperors. In 476CE Ravenna fell to the Germanic chief Odacer and the last Western Emperor, Romulus Augustus was deposed. His regalia was sent to Constantinople by Odacer.

Answer 2

Constantinople became a very fashionable place to move to, Constantine used a 'carrot and stick' technique to persuade influential people to move to his new capital, offering free housing to those who moved. There was a 'snowball' effect, land increased in value in Constantinople, but declined in Rome with the exodus of the monied and famous people.

Answer 3

What a case of "The rats leaving a sinking ship". In an age of changing economies between nations, Constantinople was in an ideal geographic location in the world of trade, seapower, junction of two continents, etc.. Rome had none of these things going for it-it had a poor location. The Roman empire was declining fast and the Huns were at the door. Fear and depression had to be everywhere in Rome. the effects on trade were similar to Japan's auto industry robbing strength from the American auto industry.
I liked the reference to land prices from one of your other answerers. Must be a realtor.