674–718 CEReputable sourceWell documented
The Arab Sieges and Greek Fire
On the timeline · around 674–718 CE ·
What happened
Twice the Arab armies laid siege to Constantinople itself — in 674–678 and again in 717–718 — and twice the city held. Its salvation lay in two great defences: the massive triple Theodosian Walls, the strongest fortifications of the medieval world, and 'Greek fire,' a secret incendiary weapon sprayed from siphons that burned even on water and terrified enemy fleets. Its exact recipe was so closely guarded that it is lost to this day.
Why it matters
The failed Arab sieges were among the most decisive events in European history: had Constantinople fallen, the Islamic advance into Europe might have come seven centuries before the Ottomans. Greek fire and the great walls let a shrunken empire survive for another 700 years.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Greek Fire · Reputable source