History Of The Great City, Istanbul!

Gokce Nacar

Mar 01 2496 read

Undoubtedly, the most striking feature regarding the history of Istanbul is that it occupied the capital of three world empires, the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Discoveries during archaeological excavations that took place in the Yenikapı region have shown that the history of Istanbul dates back to 8 thousand and 500 years ago. The city has developed since its inception under the sovereignty of many nations throughout history and has been a center for various cultures. According to an extensive report on the "Istanbul Province" website.

The Roman Empire achieved a great expansion in the fourth century AD, and in the midst of this, Istanbul was chosen as the capital of Rome by Emperor Constantine the Great due to its strategic location. Years later, the city was reorganized, walls expanded, temples, official buildings, palaces, Public Baths, and a horse racing field were built. The Roman Empire officially declared Istanbul its capital through a grand ceremony held in the year 330. The city was mentioned at the beginning of the recent era as the Second Rome and the New Rome. It was called "Byzantium" later and Constantinople in later periods. As for the population, the city was called "polis" throughout history. It appears that the emperors who followed Constantine the Great also continued their efforts to make the city more beautiful. The first churches were built in the city after Constantine.

History Of Istanbul!

Istanbul was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) for many years due to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century. The city was rebuilt during the era of the Byzantine Empire, and the walls were expanded again. The magnificent 6,692-meter city walls today were built by Emperor Theodosius II. The population of the city surpassed half a million in the 6th century, and it witnessed another golden age under Emperor Justinian. The Hagia Sophia is one of the monuments of this period that has reached our day. Latin supremacy, which was a black era between the years 726 and 842, began after the Crusader armies invaded the city in 1204 in the Fourth Crusade. The city was plundered over the years, including churches and monasteries. In 1261 the city administration returned the Byzantines and could not regain its previous wealth.

After its conquest by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1453, Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire for 470 years until 1923.

Istanbul turned into a center of science, culture, and art during the Ottoman era, and it was blessed with a wonderful tolerance in which mosques, synagogues, and churches lived side by side.

Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror's large cannons, which were used for the first time in the history of the war in the world, is an important reason to bypass the walls of Istanbul. After the conquest, the capital of the zOttoman Empire moved here, and the construction work of the empty and destroyed city began by increasing its population with immigrants brought in from different parts of the country.

Religious freedom and social rights were granted to the ancient residents to ensure the continuation of their lives. A hundred years after the conquest, Turkish art left its mark on the city, and domes and minarets dominated the city's silhouette. Istanbul, which first joined the territories of the Ottoman Empire on May 29, 1453, was divided in 1459 into four administrative units, each with a different demographic composition.

Istanbul entered the sixteenth century as one of the most important and largest cities on the stage of history and was severely damaged in the earthquake of September 14, 1509, which described the minor rise. After this destruction, Istanbul was rebuilt by employing 80,000 people by Sultan Bayezid II, continuing to increase its importance on the stage of history.

Istanbul acquired many valuable monuments in the period between 1520-1566 under the rule of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and it continued its development after it acquired a city plan that extended to the present time.

Istanbul became the center of the Islamic world on the occasion of the Ottoman sultans assuming the caliphate, starting from the sixteenth century, and became the "capital of the world" by embracing all religions and cultures, not just the Islamic world.

The winds of change began to blow in Istanbul with the establishment of the fire service and the opening of the first printing press and the construction of various factories in the period known as the Tulip Era between 1718 and 1730, and at that time Damad Ibrahim Pasha Al Nushahrli was assuming the position of Grand Vizier.

With the announcement of the first conditionality on December 23, 1876, and the second conditionality on July 24, 1908, the form of the Ottoman state changed. Under the influence of this change, Istanbul became the first state through a law passed in 1909.

New Era In Istanbul!

A new era began in Istanbul with the Tanzimat decree announced to the people on November 3, 1939, in the Gülhane Park of the Topkapi Palace. In the aftermath of World War I, Istanbul was occupied by the naval fleet of the Allied countries on November 13, 1918.

With the establishment of the Turkish Republic on October 29, 1923, the reign of the capital in Istanbul, which had been liberated on October 6, 1923, came to an end from the enemy's occupation.

The importance of Istanbul did not change due to the transfer of the capital of the Turkish Republic to Ankara, and over hundreds of years, it has embraced various civilizations and has reached the present day without losing its historical and cultural importance.

You can get to know the archaeological monuments and the most important tourist places in Istanbul by visiting our blog, and if you want to visit Istanbul, you can always get supported from Iamistanbul expertise!