History of Istanbul
29 Kasım 2024

Capital of Culture and History


The history of Istanbul dates back 8500 years with the Neolithic settlement unearthed by the excavations at Yenikapı Theodosius Harbor, opening a new era in the cultural, artistic and geological changes the city has undergone and in urban archaeology.


It has been the capital of three universal empires such as the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. In the 4th century A.D., the Roman Empire expanded greatly and Istanbul was chosen by Emperor Constantine the Great to replace Rome as the new capital due to its strategic location. The city was reorganized over a period of more than 6 years, the city walls were extended, temples, official buildings, palaces, baths and a hippodrome were built. In 330, with great ceremonies, the city was officially declared the capital of the Roman Empire. The city, which was called Second Rome and New Rome at the beginning of the modern era, was later called “Byzantion” and later Constantinople. Among the people, the name of the city has been known as “Polis” throughout history.


It is understood that the emperors after Constantine the Great continued their efforts to beautify the city. The first churches in the city were also built after Constantine. Due to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, Istanbul became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) for many years. During the Byzantine period, the city was rebuilt and expanded again with city walls. Today's magnificent city walls, 6492 meters long, were built by Emperor Theodosius I. Theodosius I built them. In the 6th century, the city, whose population exceeded half a million, experienced another golden age under Emperor Justinian. The Hagia Sophia, which has survived to the present day, is a work of this period.

The Latin rule, which was a dark period between 726-842, started with the invasion of the city in 1204 by the 4th Crusade, and the city was plundered for years, including all churches, monasteries and monuments. In 1261, the Byzantines regained control of the city, but the city could not regain its former wealth. After a 53-day siege, Istanbul fell to the Turks in 1453.

Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror's massive cannons, used for the first time in the history of warfare, were an important reason why the walls of Istanbul were breached. The capital of the Ottoman Empire was moved here, the population of the city was increased with immigrants brought from various parts of the country, and the reconstruction of the empty and dilapidated city was started. The former inhabitants of the city were granted freedom of religion and social rights, enabling them to continue their lives. A century after the conquest, Turkish Art left its mark on the city and domes and minarets dominated the city skyline. Since the Ottoman Sultans were Caliphs from the 16th century onwards, Istanbul became the center of the entire Islamic world.

Under the rule of the Sultans, the city was completely reconstructed and took on a fascinating atmosphere. The Sultan's Palace, built on the old acropolis, dominated the unique view of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn. From the 19th century onwards, after frequent contacts with the Western world, mosques and palaces began to be built on the shores of the Bosphorus in the style of European architecture. The many palaces built in a short period of time are also symbols of the last period of the Ottoman Empire. In the early 20th century, Istanbul witnessed the end of the Ottoman Empire.

While the Ottoman Empire was disintegrating and internal and external enemies were fighting for their share, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with the support of the Turkish Nation, together with his comrades in arms, embarked on a struggle to liberate the homeland. Following the War of Independence won by the will of the nation, the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In this process, moving the capital to Ankara did not change the importance of Istanbul. This unique city continues to be one of the most important cultural-tourism-art-finance and trade capitals in the world with its fascinating appearance.