Modern Istanbul is the largest Turkish city, famous for its cultural attractions. The city is located on both sides of the Bosphorus, on two continents at once. Over its centuries-old history, Istanbul, formerly called Constantinople, has become the center of world events more than once.
The heyday of Constantinople
The first settlements discovered by archaeologists on the territory of Istanbul date back to the Neolithic times. Several millennia passed, and already in the 7th century BC, colonists appeared here, who were attracted by the geographical position of this area, convenient from the point of view of trade. This is how the city of Byzantium originated, which for several centuries was considered one of the richest and most prosperous cities in the world. At one time the city was under the influence of the Persian state, then more than once passed under the rule of the Greek city-states.
The military position of Byzantium was strengthened after the treaty with Rome, concluded in the middle of the second century BC. Soon the city became part of the lands belonging to the Roman Empire.
The energetic and active emperor Constantine, nicknamed the Great, decided to move the capital of the empire to the east. The choice fell on Byzantium. Large-scale construction began in the city. In May 330, Constantine proclaimed the city the "Second Rome". In an effort to perpetuate his name, Constantine gave the city a new majestic name - Constantinople. The city received powerful fortress walls, Christianity was declared the state religion in Constantinople.
In a very short period of time, the renovated city has grown and expanded several times. Skilled craftsmen, gathered from all corners of the Roman Empire, built roads, erected temples and city squares. The city with a population of half a million gradually turned into one of the most influential cultural and political centers of the world of that time.
Pearl of Turkey
After the death of Constantine, the Roman Empire was split into two warring parts. Constantinople became the capital of its eastern part - the Byzantine Empire. The western region of the Roman state could not withstand the rivalry with the eastern neighbor and gradually fell into decay. The "New Rome" meanwhile continued to gain strength and prosper politically and commercially.
The brightest period of the Byzantine state falls on the middle of the VI century.
In the centuries that followed, many events took place in the political life of Eastern Rome. As a result of the Ottoman conquest, by the end of the XIV century, the city eventually received the name Istanbul and became the de facto center of Islam and the Ottoman Empire. The city was gradually built up with mosques and new palace complexes. The name “Istanbul” or “Istanbul” is a somewhat distorted phrase meaning “full of Islam”, which was supposed to emphasize the importance of the capital for the Islamic religion.
After Turkey was declared a republic in 1923, the country's capital was moved from Istanbul to Ankara. But this did not prevent Istanbul, the former Byzantium and Constantinople, from actively expanding, turning into a modern metropolis, a world trade and industrial center.
