Constantine was founded Byzantium around 660 BC.
In 324, the ancient city of Byzantium became the new capital of the Roman Empire by Emperor Constantine the Great, after whom it was renamed, and consecrated on May 11, 330.
For nearly sixteen centuries following its re-establishment as Constantinople in 330 AD, the city served as the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The Republic of Turkey established its capital in Ankara.
Pope Constantine visited Constantinople in 710-11 where he compromised with Justinian II on the Trullan canons of the Quinisext Council. Constantine was the last pope to visit Constantinople until Pope Paul VI did in 1967.
Hagia Sophia in Constantinople was the largest church in the world for about 900 years until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520.
Constantinople fell to the Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade on April 12, 1204, the Monday before Easter. The Crusaders initially intended to capture Jerusalem, but instead diverted to Constantinople after being hired by the Venetians to assist in a dispute with the Byzantine Empire. The Crusaders attacked and sacked the city, causing widespread destruction and looting.
Constantinople had 1400 public toilets around the city when it was capital of the Ottoman Empire, at a time when the rest of Europe had none.
In 1710 Constantinople (Istanbul) lost its crown as largest city by population in the world, a position it had held for seven decades, when Beijing's population reached 770,000.
On October 13, 1923 Angora replaced Istanbul as Turkey's capital.
The name of Constantinople was changed to Istanbul on March 28, 1930. The city of Angora was changed to Ankara on the same day. The name changes were part of a broader effort by the Turkish government to modernize the country and break with its Ottoman past. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, was a strong proponent of these changes, which also included the adoption of a new Turkish alphabet and the promotion of Western-style clothing and social norms.
The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, was completed on October 30, 1973 connecting the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus. The cost of the bridge was US$200 million.
Upon the bridge's opening, much was made of its being the first bridge between Europe and Asia since the pontoon bridge of Xerxes in 480 BC.
Upon its completion, the Bosphorus Bridge had the fourth-longest suspension bridge span in the world, and the longest outside the United States It remained the longest suspension bridge in Europe until the completion of the Humber Bridge in 1981, and the longest suspension bridge in Asia until the completion of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Second Bosphorus Bridge) in 1988.
Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest historical bazaar in the world with over 4,000 shops covering 61 streets. With more than 91 million visitors it was listed as the world’s most-visited tourist attraction in 2014.
Istanbul is actually in two continents – Asia and Europe. Istanbul is the only major transcontinental city. Its commercial and historical center lies in Europe, while a third of its population lives in Asia.
With a population of 14.1 million, Istanbul is the fifth-largest city in the world by population within city limits.
Approximately 11.6 million foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul in 2012, making the city the world's fifth-most-popular tourist destination.
The best known song about the Turkish city is “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” which was originally a hit for The Four Lads in 1953 and later revived by They Might Be Giants. Other tunes about Istanbul include: “Istanbul” by The Breeders, “She Took My Soul In Istanbul” by Marc Almond, "Istanbul" by Morrissey and “City Of Black & White” by Mat Kearney.
In 324, the ancient city of Byzantium became the new capital of the Roman Empire by Emperor Constantine the Great, after whom it was renamed, and consecrated on May 11, 330.
For nearly sixteen centuries following its re-establishment as Constantinople in 330 AD, the city served as the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The Republic of Turkey established its capital in Ankara.
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| Map of Constantinople (1422) by Florentine cartographer Cristoforo Buondelmonti is the oldest surviving map of the city |
Pope Constantine visited Constantinople in 710-11 where he compromised with Justinian II on the Trullan canons of the Quinisext Council. Constantine was the last pope to visit Constantinople until Pope Paul VI did in 1967.
Hagia Sophia in Constantinople was the largest church in the world for about 900 years until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520.
Constantinople fell to the Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade on April 12, 1204, the Monday before Easter. The Crusaders initially intended to capture Jerusalem, but instead diverted to Constantinople after being hired by the Venetians to assist in a dispute with the Byzantine Empire. The Crusaders attacked and sacked the city, causing widespread destruction and looting.
After the fall of Constantinople, the Crusaders established the Latin Empire of Constantinople, with Baldwin of Flanders being crowned as the first Latin Emperor. However, their rule was unpopular and unstable, and the Latin Empire struggled to maintain control over the city and its territories. Within ten years, the Latin Empire had collapsed, and the Byzantine Empire was partially restored under the rule of the Palaiologos dynasty.
The Fourth Crusade and the fall of Constantinople had a significant impact on the Byzantine Empire and the wider world. It weakened the Byzantine Empire, which was already in decline, and paved the way for the Ottoman Turks to eventually capture Constantinople in 1453. The Fourth Crusade also caused a rift between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, which remains to this day.
Constantinople had 1400 public toilets around the city when it was capital of the Ottoman Empire, at a time when the rest of Europe had none.
In 1710 Constantinople (Istanbul) lost its crown as largest city by population in the world, a position it had held for seven decades, when Beijing's population reached 770,000.
On October 13, 1923 Angora replaced Istanbul as Turkey's capital.
The name of Constantinople was changed to Istanbul on March 28, 1930. The city of Angora was changed to Ankara on the same day. The name changes were part of a broader effort by the Turkish government to modernize the country and break with its Ottoman past. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, was a strong proponent of these changes, which also included the adoption of a new Turkish alphabet and the promotion of Western-style clothing and social norms.
The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, was completed on October 30, 1973 connecting the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus. The cost of the bridge was US$200 million.
Upon its completion, the Bosphorus Bridge had the fourth-longest suspension bridge span in the world, and the longest outside the United States It remained the longest suspension bridge in Europe until the completion of the Humber Bridge in 1981, and the longest suspension bridge in Asia until the completion of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Second Bosphorus Bridge) in 1988.
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| The Bosphorus Bridge after sunset. Istanbul, Turkey |
Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest historical bazaar in the world with over 4,000 shops covering 61 streets. With more than 91 million visitors it was listed as the world’s most-visited tourist attraction in 2014.
Istanbul is actually in two continents – Asia and Europe. Istanbul is the only major transcontinental city. Its commercial and historical center lies in Europe, while a third of its population lives in Asia.
With a population of 14.1 million, Istanbul is the fifth-largest city in the world by population within city limits.
Approximately 11.6 million foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul in 2012, making the city the world's fifth-most-popular tourist destination.
The best known song about the Turkish city is “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” which was originally a hit for The Four Lads in 1953 and later revived by They Might Be Giants. Other tunes about Istanbul include: “Istanbul” by The Breeders, “She Took My Soul In Istanbul” by Marc Almond, "Istanbul" by Morrissey and “City Of Black & White” by Mat Kearney.
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