History of Istanbul

“If the world were a single state, Istanbul would be the capital,” Napoleon said. As you know, Napoleon was one of the most important commanders and statesmen in the history of the world. These city-states were the most advanced states of that period economically and culturally. One of the most important reasons for their economic development is their colonization efforts. Byzas, the king of the city-state of Megara, went to the temple of Apollo (the god of wisdom in Greek mythology) in Delphi to find a new colony and consulted the oracle about the most suitable place to colonize. The oracle tells him that he must go to the lands opposite the land of the blind.

Byzas sets out to find this country. When he comes to today's historical peninsula (Sultanahmet region), he sees that there is a settlement (Chalcedon) in the region where today's Kadıköy is located on the Anatolian side. When there is such a beautiful region, he is surprised that people set up settlements on the opposite shore. He thinks that the people living next to him are blind. What the oracle said comes to his mind and he establishes a colony in the region. This colony takes the name of the king and becomes Byzantion / Byzantium.

Byzantion remained an insignificant city until the 4th century AD. The fate of Byzantion changes when Constantine becomes Emperor in 312. Constantine's mother Helena is a good Christian. He constantly tells his son about Christianity and prays for him. Before Constantine's last battle during the throne fights, he started to look warmly to Christianity because of a vision he saw. He then signs the Edict of Milan, which will grant religious freedom to Christians. With this edict, the 300 years of persecution of Christians comes to an end, and this is one of Constantine's greatest achievements.

Constantine has another big project. This project is to move the capital of the empire to another place. This is because Rome was vulnerable to barbarian raids from the north. In this direction, he thinks of Nicomedia, which is today's Izmit region, Troy and Byzantion, which is today's Istanbul. Constantine decides on Byzantion. One of the biggest reasons for deciding on Byzantion is the location of Byzantion. Being a peninsula due to the Sea of ​​Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, consisting of seven hills like Rome, and its unique advantage in controlling trade routes, were effective in Constantine's decision. The fact that the city is open to growth, change and development is another motivation. Because instead of destroying the pagan heritage of Rome, there is a chance to build a new capital directly as a Christian city.

Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantion in 330 and named the city Nova Roma, that is, New Rome. After the death of Constantine, the city takes the name of Constantinople. Constantinople becomes the new capital of a new age.

Istanbul represents a new era at the end of the dark period that lasted for 300 years and Christians were constantly persecuted. Istanbul, which started with Constantine and became the capital of the Roman Empire under the rule of Christian Roman Emperors, becomes one of the most important cities in the history of Christianity. Today, the councils accepted as common by all Christians (Iznik Council, Chalcedon (Kadıköy) Council and Constantinople Council) were held during the period when Istanbul was the capital.

During the reign of Emperor Theodosius, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire with the Edict of Thessaloniki. The capital Constantinople, on the other hand, gradually turned into a center of Christianity.

You can see many structures from the Roman Empire in Istanbul. The most important of these are the Aqueduct of Valens (AD 364), Hagia Sophia (AD 537), Basilica Cistern (532 AD), Hagia Eirene (537 AD), Galata Tower (528 AD).