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istanbul
by
Stafford North
Between the Black
Sea and the Agean/Mediterranean lies
a narrow passage made up of the Bosporus,
Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles (Hellespont). A location of strategic
importance, the site has been occupied since about 5500 BC. Ancient Troy
was located not far away.
The area was successively occupied by most major powers of the ancient world: Hattians (2000-1700 BC); Hittites (1700-1200 BC), Sea People (1200 BC), Greeks (1200-546 BC), Persians (546-334 BC), Greeks (334-196 BC), and the Roman/Byzantine Empire (196 BC-1453 AD).
A good way to remember the history of this city is by its three names. From about 700 BC the city on the Bosporus was called Byzantium. In 330 AD, Constantine, the Roman Emperor, moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium from Rome and renamed the city Constantinople. He enlarged and beautified the city. With the move, the Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire. The city of Rome remained the capital of the western portion of the Empire until it fell to invaders in 476 AD. The eastern portion of the Empire, ruled from Constantinople, continued for another thousand years.
The Emperor Justinian (527-565 AD) extended the Byzantine Empire almost to the former extent of the Roman Empire. He also added many buildings to the city of Constantinople including the Haghia Sophia church. After Justinian, the Empire gradually declined. The Fourth Crusade, in 1204, burned and sacked the city and the Crusaders controlled the area for 50 years. Then it returned to the Byzantine Empire, which, by then, was reduced to a very small territory.
In 1453, the Ottomans, whose strength had been building for many years, conquered Constantinople. They gave the city its third name, Istanbul, "the city of many Islams." They made Istanbul the capital of the Ottoman Empire which expanded to control territory in Europe and Africa as well as in Asia. Since Istanbul is built on both sides of the Bosporus, it is located in both Asia and Europe.
Over time, the Ottoman Empire lost some territory through military defeats and some by revolt. But when they backed Germany in World War I, they were defeated by the British, French, and Greeks. Lawrence of Arabia was a leader in this defeat. After this the Ottomans lost most of their territory but were allowed to keep what is now the country of Turkey. In 1923, the National Assembly created a republic which became a secular state rather than an Islamic one. Turkey remained neutral during World War II but later joined NATO.
Today, Istanbul is a city of over 2 million people but the capital of Turkey has been moved to Ankara, nearer the center of the nation.
PLACES WE WILL VISIT IN ISTANBUL
Haghia
Sophia
A church building was first
built on this site in 360 AD, but was burned in a religious riot in 404.
By 415 a new church was constructed and it was burned in a revolt in 532
during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. He rebuilt the church
on an even larger scale. Workers and materials came from all over the
Empire. It was opened in 537 but an earthquake damaged it twenty years
later. It was repaired and reopened in 563. Haghia Sophia, named for "Divine
Wisdom," served as the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Constantinople. From
1204 to 1261, the Crusaders, backed by the Roman Catholic Church, occupied
Constantinople
and this church.
After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople
in 1443, the church was converted to a mosque and four minarets were added
and some other internal changes were made. In 1932, the building was converted
to a museum and remains so today.
The main part of the building is a rectangle 230 feet by 250 feet which contains the nave and surrounding galleries. A small separate building holds the baptistry. Its most famous feature is its huge dome which is 100 feet in diameter, the largest in the ancient world. It's center, surrounded by gold calligraphy on a black background, represents the sun. Forty stone ribs, decorated with geometric motifs, provide the structure while 40 small windows around the outer circle make the dome seem to float above the nave. Many mosaics are among the special features of the church.
Topkapi
Palace
From 1452 to 1853, the Topkapi Palace was the residence and administrative center of the Ottoman Sultans. It is a collection of many buildings, including resideces, a harem, a mosque, a throne room and reception area, and government offices. Elaborate decorations, domes, tiled floors, sculptures, beautiful gates, and ornate furnishings characterize the complex.
Since 1924, the Topkapi Palace has been a museum. It now holds collections of clocks, arms, porcelain, manuscripts, and Turkish miniatures.
The
Blue Mosque
Built in 1617, the Blue Mosque is considered one of the architectural
marvels of the world. It is outlined by six minarets. Its peristyle has
26 columns which form a portico topped with 30 small cupolas. The central
dome rises 77 feet above the floor of the huge prayer hall and is 141
feet in diameter. It is surrounded by simi-domes. Light floods through
the building's 260 windows. The many blue tiles give the building its
name.
The
Hippodrome
Located near the Blue Mosque, the
Hippodrome, built by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, dates from 198 AD.
It was a public meeting place for celebrations, executions, and entertainment.
Its race track was 2700 yards long-over a mile and a half, and featured
races for four chariots at a time who raced for seven laps. Today, the
street encircling the area follows the path of the track. In the spine
of the Hippodrome are three monuments. In the center is a serpent column,
first erected in Delphi
in 479 BC. The top third of an Egyptian obelisk, first erected by Tutmosis
III in the about 1550 BC, also decorates the spine. It was broken in transport.
A third column was probably originally erected by Constantine the Great
but was later covered in bronze.
In 532, 30,000 insurgents were massacred in the Hippodrome when the exits were blocked by troops and they could not get out.
The
Grand Bazaar
This covered building, long
the site of merchants, houses 4,399 shops, 2,195 workshops, and 497 stalls.
It is famous for carpets, jewelry, copper, leather, fabrics, and even
jeans.
Faculty Facts
Merle Gatewood teaches English and French in the Department of Language and Literature. About her goals at OC she says, "I want to help students become truly educated, that is, to grow in wisdom and faith."
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