Final answer:
Constantinople's strategic location on the Bosporus Strait contributed to the wealth of the empire by controlling important trade routes and attracting merchants. The city's proximity to trade routes like the Silk Road facilitated the exchange of goods, and its size and prosperity made it a hub of economic activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Constantinople's strategic location on the Bosporus Strait contributed to the wealth of the empire in several ways. Firstly, it controlled the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, which were important trade routes connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea. This made Constantinople the gateway between Europe and Asia, allowing the empire to benefit from trade and taxation. Secondly, the city's proximity to trade routes, including the Silk Road, attracted merchants and facilitated the exchange of goods from China, India, and beyond. Lastly, Constantinople's size, prosperity, and beauty made it a hub of economic activity and a center for industries like silk production, which generated tremendous wealth for the empire.