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[[File:Saint Sophia Turkey.jpg|thumb|Hagia Sophia.]]

[[File:Saint Sophia Turkey.jpg|thumb|Hagia Sophia.]]

'''Istanbul''' is the largest city in [[Turkey]] and amongst the largest of cities in the world, with a population nearing 13 million. For the most part, Istanbul is located in the European part of Turkey, Thrace, but extends into parts of Asia-Minor. While [[Ankara]] is the formal capital of Turkey, Istanbul is largely considered the cultural and financial capital of the nation. Throughout its history, Istanbul has been a major city, known by names such as Byzantium and Constantinople.

'''Istanbul''' is the largest city in [[Turkey]] and amongst the largest of cities in the world, with a population nearing 13 million. For the most part, Istanbul is located in the European part of Turkey, Thrace, but extends into parts of Asia-Minor. While [[Ankara]] is the formal capital of Turkey, Istanbul is largely considered the cultural and financial capital of the nation. Since the Fourth century, Istanbul has been a major city, known by names such as Byzantium and Constantinople.

Constantinople was the magnificent city that served as the capital of the eastern half of the [[Roman Empire]], later the [[Byzantine Empire]].  Formerly the city of [[Byzantium]], [[Constantine]] renamed it Constantinople (a derived form of "Constantinopolis") in A.D. 330.  It was designed to be the Rome of the East, and served that purpose for roughly 1000 years after the fall of Rome itself. It was conquered by the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II in 1453. It served as the capital of the [[Ottoman Empire]] until the Empire was destroyed by the [[World War I|First World War]].

As Constantinople the city served as capital of the [[Roman Empire]] after Constantine I and later capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, later called the [[Byzantine Empire]].  Located on the site of the city of [[Byzantium]], under [[Constantine]] a massive city was planned and built named Nova Roma (New Rome) it was later officially named Constantinople by Emperor [[Theodosius II]] (a derived form of "Constantinopolis") in A.D. 330, the name Constantinople was.  It was designed to be the Rome of the East, and served that purpose for nearly 1000 years after the fall of Rome to Odoacer. It was conquered by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1453. It served as the capital of the [[Ottoman Empire]] until the Empire was destroyed by the [[World War I|First World War]].

[[Category:Turkey]]

[[Category:Turkey]]

[[Category:Asian Cities and Towns]]

[[Category:Asian Cities and Towns]]