Ibn Battuta
Battuta has an overall neutral image of Constantinople. He claims that "The bazaars in this part of the town are good but filthy, and a small and very dirty river runs through them. Their churches too are filthy and mean." His description of the church being filthy and mean also implies he thinks negatively towards Chrstianity. However, he still respects The City because he still says that they are good.
Benjamin of Tudela
Benjamin has an overall positive image of Constantinople, despite visiting the city during political decline. He remarks about the unique entertainment when he says that "No entertainment like this is to be found in any other land." He does not comment about the filthiness of the city and regards the church with awe when he says "there are pillars of gold and silver, and lamps of silver and gold more than a man can count". He idealizes Constantinople as the best place to live in the world when he says that "Wealth like that of Constantinople is not go be found in the whole world. Here also are men learned in all the books of the Greeks, and they eat and drink, every man under his vine and his fig-tree."
Liudprand of Cremona
Liudprand has an overall negative image of Constantinople. He is forced to walk on foot after arriving on horse because he is treated as inferior. Nicephorus "did not think [them] worthy to use the horses. Also, the fact that it is raining and that the house is described as "hateful, waterless, draughty stone" shows how he dislikes the city. He even goes to mentioning how the emperor is a "monstrosity" of a person. He also says that only the emperor wore jewels while everyone else worse wore poor tunics with holes in them.
Credibility
I believe that these descriptions should be taken with a grain of salt because of the wide range of perspective. Often times, people's opinions can influence their analysis on topics. Perhaps Nicephorus was having a bad day when Liudprand arrived.
No comments:
Post a Comment