The Fall of Constantinople: 1453 & The World's First Off-Road Navy

Stonedhenge: History and High Thoughts · Mar 11, 2025 · 1h 10m

In 1453, Sultan Mehmed II showed up to the most fortified city on earth with a simple plan: "What if we just built a cannon the size of a barn?"

In this episode, we break down the most metal siege in history—The Fall of Constantinople. We cover:

The Basilic Cannon: A 27-foot gun that fired 600-pound balls and occasionally exploded, killing its own crew (OSHA was not involved).

The Land Ships: How the Ottomans bypassed the harbor defenses by greasing up some logs and literally dragging 70 warships over a mountain overnight.

The Final Stand: The chaotic end of the Byzantine Empire and why the…