Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, is the largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, cultural and historic hub. The city straddles the Bosporus strait, lying in both Europe and Asia, and has a population of over 15 million residents, comprising 19% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is the most populous city in Europe and the world's fifteenth-largest city.
Founded as Byzantion by Megarian greek colonists in the 7th century BCE, it was renamed by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great first as New Rome (Nova Roma) in 330 CE. He soon afterwards changed the name to Constantinople (Constantinopolis), whereafter the city grew in size and influence and became a beacon of the Silk Road and one of the most important cities in history.
The city served as an imperial capital for almost sixteen centuries: during the Roman/Byzantine period (330-1204), Latin (1204-1261), Byzantine (1261-1453), and Ottoman (1453-1922) empires.The city played a key role in the advancement of Christianity during Roman/Byzantine times, hosting four (including Chalcedon (Kadıköy) on the Asian side) of the first seven ecumenical councils (all of which were in present-day Turkey) before its transformation to an Islamic stronghold following the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 CE-especially after becoming the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1517.
In 1923, after the Turkish War of Independence, Ankara replaced the city as the capital of the newly formed Republic of Turkey. In 1930, the city's name was officially changed to Istanbul, an appellation Greek speakers used since the eleventh century to colloquially refer to the city.
Istanbul is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and hosts the headquarters of numerous Turkish companies, accounting for more than thirty percent of the country's economy.
4 окт 2024
