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Istanbul

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Coordinates: 41°0′36″N 28°57′37″E / 41.01000°N 28.96028°E / 41.01000; 28.96028
This article is about a World Heritage Site
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Istanbul
İstanbul
Metropolitan municipality
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
See caption
Levent business district in Istanbul
Turkey, with Istanbul pinpointed at the northwest along a thin strip of land bounded by water
Turkey, with Istanbul pinpointed at the northwest along a thin strip of land bounded by water
Istanbul
Location in Turkey
Coordinates: 41°0′36″N 28°57′37″E / 41.01000°N 28.96028°E / 41.01000; 28.96028
CountryTurkey
RegionMarmara
ProvinceIstanbul
 - Byzantiumc. 660 BC
 - Constantinople330 AD
 - Istanbul1930 (officially)[a]
Districts39
Government
 • MayorEkrem İmamoğlu (CHP)
Area
 • Metro
5,343 km2 (2,063 sq mi)
Population
 (2024)[2]
 • Metropolitan municipality16,047,000
 • Rank1st Turkey
 • Density2,593/km2 (6,720/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Istanbulite(s)
(Turkish: İstanbullu(lar))
Time zoneUTC+3 (FET)
Postal code
34000 to 34850
Area code(s)(+90) 212 (European side)
(+90) 216 (Asian side)
WebsiteIstanbul Metropolitan Municipality
Satellite Image of Istanbul, the Bosporus, and the Black Sea
Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror Bridge across the Bosporus

Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, is a mega city that sits in both Europe and Asia, divided by the Bosporus. Although it is the largest city of Turkey, it is not the capital. It is the largest city in Europe by population. It is also the 3rd largest European city in size. It was the capital city of the old Ottoman Empire until 1923. The city has been known since ancient times by the older names Byzantium and Constantinople (Latin: Constantinopolis; Greek: Κωνσταντινούπολις, Konstantinoúpolis). Being a seaport, Istanbul is the main trade center of Turkey.[source?]

Part of Istanbul is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3]

Istanbul faces the Golden Horn and the Bosporus strait. The Bosphorus connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and separates Europe and Asia. It's the only city around the world that is on two different continents.[4] The city is actually in both Europe and Asia.[5] One-third of the people live on the Asian side. Its population is between 11 and 15 million people, making it one of the largest cities in Europe. Many people migrate to Istanbul every year. In 2023, Istanbul was the city with the most international arrivals.[6]

Its original name was Byzantion in the Greek language, known as Byzantium in the Latin language. Byzantium was originally settled as a colony by Greeks from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king, Byzas. In 196 AD, Byzantium was damaged by the Romans, then rebuilt by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. Constantine the Great thought this city was in a nice location, and in 330, moved the capital of the Empire from Rome to there, as New Rome (Latin: Nova Roma; Greek: Νέα Ρώμη, Nea Rómi), renaming the city Constantinople, after his name.[source?]

When the Roman Empire was later divided into two, the East Roman Empire was known as the Byzantine Empire, and its capital was in Constantinople, where Hagia Sophia had been built. Although it was captured by Crusaders for a time, it continued as one of the political, cultural, religious, and economic centers of Europe until it finally fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.[7]

Istanbul became the capital of the Ottoman Empire in 1453. After the Ottoman Empire ended, the Republic of Turkey was started with its capital at Ankara. Later in 1930, Constantinople was renamed Istanbul.[source?]

The Romanlar (Turkish Gypsys) have lived in Istanbul since 1054 at Sulukule, well known for their Music and Dance style. After 1453, by order of Mehmed II, Roma was settled in Istanbul from other parts of the Ottoman Empire. In some cases, they live in several Mahallas (quarters) together with Turks in Istanbul in the European and Asian parts of this city.[8][8][9]

Notes

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  1. ↑ The name of the city was officially changed to its present name of Istanbul in 1930, but the name has been in use since even before the 1453 Ottoman conquest.[1]

References

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  1. ↑ Room, Adrian (2006). Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6,600 Countries, Cities, Territories, Natural Features, and Historic Sites (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-7864-2248-7.
  2. ↑ "Istanbul, Turkey Metro Area Population 2024". macrotrends.net. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  3. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Historic Areas of Istanbul". UNESCO. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  4. ↑ Singh, Rahul (6 February 2022). "Straddling Two Continents". Outlook India.
  5. ↑ "Istanbul embraces two continents". web.mit.edu. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "Two of the most-visited cities in the world are in Turkey - this one is the unsung hero". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "The Ottoman Turks Capture Constantinople". historyofinformation.com. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "THE GYPSIES OF ISTANBUL | History of Istanbul".

Other websites

[change | change source]
The Simple English Wiktionary has a definition for: Istanbul.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Istanbul.

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