For this reason, the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empires gave the necessary value to Istanbul. Developed and grown by the Roman emperor Constantine, Istanbul was known as Constantinople. After the collapse of Western Rome, it began to host the Eastern Roman, that is, Byzantium. In the research about Istanbul, we see those empires such as the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire cherished Istanbul and evaluated it as the capital. However, in today's Turkey, Istanbul is not a capital city but a metropolis.

First Civilizations in Istanbul

If we are talking about the history of Istanbul, we must speak of the Roman and Byzantine empires. Still, according to the research, it has been proven that there has been life in Istanbul since the polished stone age, but it is accepted that the Megarians carried out the known provincial settlement. According to the first recorded information in the post-historical period, the ancient Greek city-state was one of the first owners of Istanbul. 

Istanbul, which later came under the rule of the Roman Empire, is the apple of the eye of the Republic of Turkey today, after the domination of the Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman empires, respectively. For this reason, Istanbul is a world city that attracts attention with its beauty and geographical location. What can be deduced from this is that Istanbul is an important city, both politically and socially, regardless of who is under its rule.

Places to Witness the History of Istanbul

Undoubtedly, the best way to get extensive information about Istanbul is to visit the historical museums or places in Istanbul. In our opinion, the first example that can be given would be to visit Hagia Sophia, which used to be an Eastern Roman church. Again, the Maiden's Tower, located in the Bosphorus, should be at the top of the list with its historical structure and magnificent attitude.

In addition, the Galata Tower, one of the important works of Istanbul, was built during the Byzantine period and is a must-see. In addition, the large palace mosaics museum, which is also one of the works of the Roman period, will also serve as a good compass and will make your trip much more enjoyable. Binbirdirek Cistern, also a work of the Constantine period, is among the places to be seen. In addition, the Archeology Museum, which will serve as a treasure trove of the history of Istanbul, is a very productive resource.

Last but not least, one of the places that can be said to be the first place to be seen in Istanbul is the Basilica Cistern, which is known for storing tons of water. In addition to all these, the Theodosius obelisk and Bozdoğan Kemer are the Byzantine period works that should be seen. When these artifacts are visited, it will be possible to reach a wide range of information about Istanbul and the Roman and Byzantine Empires.

Stories of Legendary Places in Istanbul

The Maiden's Tower mentioned in the examples we have given was strengthened during the Byzantine Empire and used for different purposes for centuries, but it has a sad legend. The legend is that a young man named Leandros secretly meets his lover named Heros in this tower. One night, when he sees the light on the tower, he thinks that his lover sent him a sign, and he goes to the tower in the middle of the sea, but this time he is on the board because someone else who knows these secret meetings has turned on the light and turns it off after a while. Therefore, Leondras dies, and his lover leaves herself in the cold waters of the sea. In addition to this sad legend, there is a legend of the Galata tower, which is a Roman structure. 

According to Roman belief, a couple who climbs the Galata tower will marry and live happily ever after. Still, if these couples are not destined to meet, they will always encounter an obstacle and cannot get married. In addition to all these legends, there is another common legend of Galata and Maiden's Tower, which is related to the possibility that Galata Tower and Maiden's Tower are in love with each other. However, Bosphorus is an obstacle for lovers to meet. However, it is believed that it helped them to continue their passion for the Bosphorus, that Hezerfen Ahmet Çelebi, who had a dream of flying with wings, carried their letters to each other, and that's why these two towers create a wonderful harmony. All these legends aside, we strongly recommend you visit these places, which we believe will fascinate you both historically and visually.

With the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Istanbul has undergone many alterations in many ways. After the Ottoman Empire, which could not keep up with the needs of the era, and which lacked many qualities that other countries had and kept developing in the process of time, the new identity has led Istanbul to take a unique place in the stages of history. 

In virtue of the modernization process, which Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gave great importance to, Istanbul has developed a distinct identity as a modern and global city. From an economic and cultural standpoint, Istanbul is the beating heart of modern Turkey. Thanks to Istanbul’s peerless historical heritage, Istanbul remains an important city, not only for Turkey but also in the eyes of the rest of the world.

Being home to many international political, cultural, fine arts, and sports organizations, Istanbul is rapidly ascending to the top of the world city rankings. Moreover, Istanbul, Turkey’s western getaway, has redefined its former status as an imperial capital by establishing itself as a world-class center for trade, tourism, business, and culture.

New Istanbul and the Republic of Turkey

Istanbul had a significant role in Westernization efforts; it was not only the center of attention for the country’s relationship with the West but also was a center for intellectual and popular development. Over the last two decades, Westernization has been the single powerful and influential criterion for determining Turkish society and its historical background.

With the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, the modern Turkish nobles desired to distinguish themselves as distinct in terms of their perception, education, and profession. Therefore, this gradually led to an influence on social life. Culture of music, dance, cinema, theater, clothes, sports, eating and drinking, entertainment, and more had their new identities with Westernization. These all have a special place in Istanbul, and it has superiority even though Ankara was the political center.

Istanbul’s Layout During Republican Period

The squares, which were used to introduce a new identity to the city, were one of the most important local structures that gave the city a modern identity. The construction of new squares in the city can be seen in the earliest years of the Republic of Turkey. Beyazıt Square, home to many historical structures, was created as a public open space in 1923-24, with a fountain and pool in the center. This was followed by the designation of Taksim Square as a terminal point that is the city’s symbol and center.

A renowned city planner named Henri Prost was the first person to design the early layout of the city for 15 years. Various stadiums, boulevards, and opera houses spread throughout the city are among his marks. This formed the first modern layout for the city, and from that point on, it never stopped growing and growing. 

Istanbul has three bridges that connect Europe and Asia. The first one was built in 1973, and it took three years to finish construction. It was formerly called Boğaziçi Bridge, and it is now called 15 Temmuz Şehitler Bridge. The other two bridges, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge were built in 1988 and 2016, respectively. They are both named after prominent Sultans in the Ottoman Era. There were projects of other bridges before the Republic of Turkey, but they were not initiated during the times of the Ottoman Empire. Even Da Vinci had a project regarding a bridge to be built over Golden Horn, and it would reach over the Bosphorus. 

Big Wave of New Residents 

 As the economy and reach of Istanbul extended over the Republic of Turkey, people living in Anatolian regions that are more rural than urban started to migrate to Istanbul. It was a huge and never-ending wave that brought both economic movements and a crisis in terms of residential areas as the number of apartments could not meet the needs of the newcomers. A great construction began to catch up with the fresh people. The size of the city doubled, tripled even, and the city stretched through the coastline on both continents. We should note that this still carries on, and Istanbul is ten times bigger than it was.

Now a Home To Millions

Sixteen million people live in Istanbul now, and it is the heart of the Republic of Turkey without a doubt. Millions of other people come here for business or tourist purposes. Yes, it is a crowded, buzzing city, but thinking about its history with all its glory, we believe it is just for Istanbul to be crowded. Home to various cultures, religions, and minorities; a place where art, history, culture, music, and people come together harmoniously. Istanbul still carries overall what it had seen in the past, and since the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, it is still being preserved.