Paul GrahamVerified account

@paulg cannon technology was not good enough to bring them down

@paulg they were actually two layers of walls separated by a moat and set atop a steep incline, frustrating beseigers.

@paulg Mines were successfully dug, but countermines surprised and killed the sappers. http://books.google.com/books?id=ftOp1cR7VK8C&pg=PT161&lpg=PT161&dq=undermine+walls+constantinople&source=bl&ots=PpyF2Zerpa&sig=u46hm9GGWr6_z8BpDVIkUYe7jRI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Ra1kUongJKqKiQeh4oHgCw&ved=0CFsQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=undermine%20walls%20constantinople&f=false …

@ryanp2 @paulg I think they had an inside man

@paulg That's no one's business but the Turks.

@paulg Ottoman captured it, in fact, he blew a hole in the wall

@paulg wellmanned at weaker sections,cannon use from ships are inaccurate,sieges by water are always difficult when forces need to funnel in

@paulg ask Sultan Mehmet "The Conqueror" whose cannons made a breach in the walls

@paulg two key reasons: topography of assault grade & ordnance delivery sys. the mehmet assault is a classic mil.sci study

@paulg A limestone and crushed brick mortar core which bonded with the stone facades. Assume the stone was well cut for good fit.