Constantinople

Article 1) Ibn Battuta
          Mr. Ibn Battuta has a negative view of Constantinople especially because of the religion practiced there. I think that Battuta dislikes the new Christianity and the prominence of it in Constantinople turns him off. "[O]ne of the greatest churches of the Greeks" stands in the city, but Buttata thinks that "[t]heir churches too are filthy and mean." Despite his dislike, I think his account is reliable. The details and specifics lead me to believe he was accurate in his descriptions. When he describes the Hagia Shophia, he states that he "can only describe the exterior, for [he]did not see its interior"; this implies that Buttata only wrote down what he observed, and did not make up information.

Article 2) Benjamin of Tudela
          Mr. Benjamin seems to be positive. He emphasizes the uniqueness of Constantinople though mentioning repeatedly that wealth and entertainment are "not to be found in the whole world." He sees the difference between the declining Byzantine Empire and the flourishing Constantinople. He doesn't add his own opinions to the account, but has a generally positive look on the city. I think his account can not be trusted because of the exaggerations and the vagueness.

Article 3) Liudprand of Cremona, Embassy to Constantinople
          Mr. Liudprand of Cremona had a negative view of Constantinople due to previous experiences. He represents the Roman Empire and seeks to "stir up strife" according to Leo the bother of the Emperor Nicephorus. Mr. Liudprad's negativity is a mutual feeling as displayed which is displayed through an unflattering description of being "disfigured", "disgraced", "old, foul smelling." Through the tone of the account, it seems are though there have been tense unresolved issues that lay unspoken between the two empires, of which neither would like to address, and both would rather "resolve" by insulting the other. This festering problem gives Mr. Luidprad a negative view of Constantinople and taints his account with contempt which results in an unreliable account.