Istanbul's History

Founded around the year 660 BC by Doric Greeks from Megara, Argos and a colony of Corinth city on the European banks of the Bosporus, in a quiet and protected port, Byzantium. Because of the favorable geographical position - through the Bosporus strait on the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara connected, and this in turn leads through the Dardanelles into the Mediterranean - Byzantium was soon an important commercial center.

In the year 513 BC the Persian King Darius I. conquered the city. 324 AD Constantine I united both parts of the Roman Empire, and on 11 May 330, he christened the new capital solemnly in the name Nova Roma (New Rome). It was, however, later known under the name Constantinople.

Constantinople - Kostantiniyye - Istanbul
Constantinople in the Middle Ages
The conquest of Constantinople
1910 Besonders to Constantinople under Emperor Justinian I (527-565), the last great ruler of the late, came to fame in Constantinople and was magnificently expanded (Hagia Sophia). In the Middle Ages, the city remained the center of the Byzantine Empire and has long been by far the richest and largest city in Europe. In April 1204 but then Crusaders conquered Constantinople. The city has been looted, many residents were murdered and works of art of inestimable value were lost. At about 100,000 residents reduced their former glory robbed, the city was 1261 of the Byzantine Empire under Michael VIII reconquered.