Before arriving in Istanbul, the students read Bettany Hughes's Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities as a general introduction to the history of the Eastern Roman Empire and its capital, Constantinople. The course combined discussions of the book with visits to churches, museums, mosques, and archaeological sites in Istanbul and beyond. In the process, the students explored the history of the Byzantine Empire, the evolution of Eastern Orthodoxy, and the interconfessional relations throughout the late classical, medieval, and modern eras. Dr. Onur İşçi of Kadir Has University in Istanbul also joined the group on select museum visits, guided some of the tours, participated in discussions, and gladly answered many questions while touring Istanbul.