Her huge blunder was neglect of her fleet. This neglect left her open to attack by sea, and although such an attack was useless unless it could be combined with a simultaneous attack by an army—although, too, there was but one state in the world which could equip a fleet adequate for the purpose in view, the peculiar position of Constantinople ought to have taught her rulers that.she could never be safe unless she could effectually bar the passage of the Dardanelles. When at last the moment came in which her old ally was to lead the attack against the imperial city, it was by means of the Venetian fleet that the vulnerable point was reached.

In 1200 Constantinople was the chief city of the Western world. Many circumstances had contributed to give her this pre-eminence. Much was due to her geographical position. Iso city at that time or for many centuries previous was so well situated for commanding influence at once over Europe and Asia. Her situation seemed pre-eminently flatted of hessite for the seat of the universal empire to which Roman ambition aspired. All the trade between Western Europe and the countries bordering on the Black Sea, and those to which that sea was the highway, must pass her gates.

Marmora and the Bosphorus

The Sea of Marmora and the Bosphorus, called oftener the Straits of St. George, afforded the easiest of paths for the commerce of the neighboring countries. The Golden Horn, the natural harbor of Constantinople, is protected from every wind, and is so deep throughout half its length that even large vessels can be moored quite close to the shores, while throughout the other half it shoals off so as to afford ample accommodation for the smallest vessels. The triangular peninsula upon which the city is situated slopes upward gently from the sea on the two long sides to a ridge at right angles to the base, and thus affords an easy natural drainage.

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