What city did Istanbul used to be?

Up until the year 330 Istanbul was known as Byzantium, and then until 1453 Constantinople. Its current name of Istanbul only came into being on the 28th March 1930. Istanbul was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, and later of the Ottoman Empire.

What was Istanbul called before?

The city of Istanbul has been known by a number of different names. The most notable names besides the modern Turkish name are Byzantium, Constantinople, and Stamboul. Different names are associated with different phases of its history, with different languages, and with different portions of it.

What is the name of the old city of Istanbul?

Istanbul/Sultanahmet-Old City. The Old City of Istanbul (Turkish: Eski İstanbul, also Tarihi Yarımada and Suriçi, “Historical Peninsula”, and “Walled City” respectively) is the oldest part of Istanbul and the location of most of its historical sights.

Why did they change Istanbul to Constantinople?

Once the Ancient Greek city of Byzantium, when the Roman Emperor Constantine moved the capital of his Empire to the Bosporus strait, it was renamed Constantinople in his honour.

What was the capital before Istanbul?

Situated 7 km (4.3 mi) from the Greek and 20 km (12 mi) from the Bulgarian borders, Edirne was the second capital city of the Ottoman Empire from the 1360s to 1453, before Constantinople became its capital.

When did Constantinople become Istanbul? (Short Animated Documentary)

What was there before Istanbul?

Up until the year 330 Istanbul was known as Byzantium, and then until 1453 Constantinople. Its current name of Istanbul only came into being on the 28th March 1930.

Does Constantinople still exist?

The city is today the largest city in Europe, straddling the Bosporus strait and lying in both Europe and Asia, and the financial center of Turkey. Constantinople was founded on the former site of the Greek colony of Byzantium, which today is known as Istanbul in Turkey.

Who turned Constantinople to Istanbul?

After conquering the city, Mehmed II made Constantinople the new Ottoman capital, replacing Adrianople. The fall of Constantinople and of the Byzantine Empire was a watershed of the Late Middle Ages, marking the effective end of the Roman Empire, a state which began in roughly 27 BC and had lasted nearly 1,500 years.

How is the Hagia Sophia used today?

The site became a museum in 1935, and was redesignated as a mosque in 2020. In 2024, the upper floor of the mosque began to serve as a museum once again. Hagia Sophia Church was built in AD 537, with minarets added in the 15th–16th centuries when it became a mosque.

What was Istanbul called in biblical times?

A city with 3 names: Byzantium -Constantinople -Istanbul. Originally called Byzantium, the city was an ancient Greek colony founded around 657 BC.

Is Istanbul the only city in two continents?

The only city in the world that spans two continents is Istanbul, Turkey. It lies on both Europe and Asia, divided by the Bosporus Strait.

Why go to Sultanahmet?

The Sultanahmet area has popular tourist attractions such as Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia Mosque, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Basilica Cistern. It is a natural magnet for the millions of tourists who visit Istanbul.

Why is Istanbul not the capital of Turkey?

Strategic Location: Ataturk selected Ankara because the strategic geographic location in the heart of Anatolia provided safer and more defensible places, away from the borders and potential threats from foreign powers.

What is Byzantine called today?

The Byzantine Empire, sometimes referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the east during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, originally founded as Byzantium).

Why did the Ottoman Empire fall?

The Ottoman Empire sided with Germany in World War I (1914–18); postwar treaties dissolved the empire, and in 1922 the sultanate was abolished by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who proclaimed the Republic of Turkey the following year. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Decline of the Ottoman Empire".

What is the old name of Ankara?

Ankara (Turkish pronunciation: [ˈaŋ. ka. ɾa]; historically known with the names Ancyra and Angora) is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city, Istanbul being the largest.

What do Muslims call Hagia Sophia?

The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque / Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, with its innovative architecture, rich history, religious significance and extraordinary characteristics has been fighting against time for centuries, was the largest Eastern Roman Church in İstanbul.

Who is buried in Hagia Sophia?

The tombs of five Ottoman Sultans are located within the grounds of the Hagia Sophia Museum. They are: Sultan Selim II, Sultan Murad III, Sultan Mehmed III, Sultan Mustafa I, and Sultan Ibrahim I.

Can Christians pray in Hagia Sophia?

The Hagia Sophia represents religious and cultural harmony since it serves as a place of pilgrimage for Christians, Muslims, and people of other religions.

Do Greeks call Istanbul Constantinople?

For Greeks, Istanbul will always be Constantinople

Another big part of the Greeks' refusal to accept the name “Istanbul” for their beloved Polis is that since the 1920s, the contemporary Turkish state has been hostile to Hellenism and Greece itself on numerous occasions.

What is the old name of Turkey?

Turkestan, also meaning the "land of the Turks", was used for a historic region in Central Asia. Middle English usage of Turkye or Turkeye is found in The Book of the Duchess (written in 1369–1372) to refer to Anatolia or the Ottoman Empire. The modern spelling Turkey dates back to at least 1719.

Who lived in Istanbul before the Turks?

The earliest settlements in İstanbul may be traced back to the Neolithic era, about 8,000 years ago, according to archaeological artifacts. Thracians were the first culture to inhabit the city and gave it the name Lygos. On what is now known as Seraglio Point, Lygos was founded sometime in the 13th century BC.

Why did Greece not get Constantinople back?

Since Constantinople was the capital of the Ottoman Empire, it was never an option to cede it to Greece. Instead, the Allies pushed for Constantinople to be an open city.

Can you still see the walls of Constantinople?

The walls were largely maintained intact during most of the Ottoman period until sections began to be dismantled in the 19th century, as the city outgrew its medieval boundaries. Despite lack of maintenance, many parts of the walls survived and are still standing today.

Is Istanbul safe for Americans?

Short answer: Absolutely. As of August 4, 2025, Türkiye is completely safe for travel — especially in Istanbul, Cappadocia, the Aegean coast, and other major tourist destinations.