History of Istanbul

Istanbul has a long and fascinating history dating back thousands of years, with periods of both Greek and Roman control as well as a lengthy period under the famous Ottoman Empire. The city is now Turkeys most populous and is the capital of the Province of Istanbul.

Early days

Historians suspect that the area we now know as Istanbul was inhabited as early as 3000 BC however it wasnt until the 7th century that the Greeks under the leadership of King Byzas established a colony here, which subsequently became known as Byzantium generations later.

The city was besieged by the Romans in AD 196, who inflicted significant damage upon it; it was later rebuilt under the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. Constantine the Great took an interest in the city, which was eventually named after him, making it the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The city became the largest in Europe for the greater part of the Byzantine period.

The middle of the 5th century AD saw a traumatic time for the empire with Barbarians conquering the western region. The eastern region however stayed free, retaining Constantinople as its capital city. In the 6th century, the city was destroyed by anti-government protesters during the reign of Justinian I. It was later rebuilt with grander and more flamboyant structures such as the Hagia Sophia.

Middle Ages

In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks under the leadership of Sultan Mehmet II and this led to the city being renamed Istanbul on its establishment as the third and final capital of the Ottoman Empire. The city became the hub for the empires military campaigns and by the mid-16th century, it had grown to become a significant political, commercial and cultural centre. The Ottomans continued to hold control over the city until WWI, when it was occupied by allied forces.

Recent times

The establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 saw Istanbul demoted from capital status in favour of Ankara; however, this in no way affected the citys hunger for growth and it continued to see rapid expansion both in infrastructure and population. Today, the city is estimated to have a permanent population of around 13 million and this figure continues to increase every year.