The acropolis of the city named
Byzantion was located in the area where today the Topkapı
Palace stands. Today its agora coincides with present day
Ayasofya. A hippodrome was built in the yaer 196 on some
flat land terracing down to the Marmara Sea, which was later
known as At Meydanı (Square of the Horses). The city walls
were passing just outside the palace. During the reign of
Constantinus I, when significant construction activities
were undertaken in the city, the old city walls were brought
down and new ones were built which bounded a larger area.
The city which continued its growth in subsequent years
eventually spilled out of these walls. This led Emperor
Theodosius II to build part of the city walls of İstanbul
which have lasted up to present times.
In that period, houses were located on the
sections of the area surrounded by the walls which faced
either the Golden Horn or the Marmara Sea, while commercial
facilities were located around the Sirkeci area and
administrative, religious and commercial centers
concentrated at Sarayburnu, Beyazıt, Aksaray, Cerrahpaşa
and Yedikule. A new settlement area had developed on the
other shore of the Golden Horn at Galata. The majority of
the inhabitants of this settlement, which was called Sykai
(Sycae) were Venetians and the Genovese. Surrounded with
later built city walls, the area became a rich commercial
center.
The first bridge on the Golden Horn was
built by Justinien, a connection between Ayvansaray - Kasımpaşa
to make Skyai easily accessible. Galata was given to the
administration of the Genovese in 13 th century and
sustained its commercial significance for centuries. In the
5th century, the city was one of the major cities of the
world, with its population reaching 100 thousand. When 14 th
century was reached, Constantinopolis was the administrative
center of an empire whose boundaries had shrunk considerably
and whose inhabitants were mostly involved with agriculture.
Its population, which was around 50 thousand when conquered
by the Ottomans, became more than 100 thousand when the
Muslim and non - Muslim groups removed from Anatolia and
Thrace and beyond (Rumeli) During this period, the majority
of the Muslim population was living outside the peninsula
were the old city was located. During the Ottoman period the
population of the city grew even further, and the city also
expanded physically. Skyai also bursted from the city walls
and grew towards the Pera area (currently Galatasaray)
In the 19th century, significant developments were seen in
Galata. While this section of the city preserved its
importance as a commercial center, it started to achieve the
characteristics of a European city, as foreign embassies,
foreign banks, and foreign insurance firms and commissioners
concentrated here and recreational facilities started to
increase in number. The move of Ottoman Sultans from Topkapı
Palace to the Dolmabahçe palace near Galata also took place
in this century. Later, other palaces were built both in
this area and on the shores of the Bosphorous. New
settlement areas were also established around Kadıköy and
Üsküdar.
Feshane, (the fez factory) which was the
first significant industrial establishment of its times, was
commissioned in the Golden Horn area. In the 19th century,
the city had new means of transportation such as railways,
trams, and a mini - metro, (the tunnel) both at the urban
and intra - urban scale. While the port was being
modernized, ferry operations were started along the
Bosphorous. Railway connections were made to İzmit and
Edirne, and suburban lines were being provided to connect
the city to its immediate surroundings. The bridges
connecting the two shores of the Golden Horn were also built
in this century. In 1854, the Municipality of İstanbul was
established.
Taking the rapid urbanization the city
displayed into consideration, several plans were drawn up
for the city during the Republican Period. When these plans
allocated the areas around the Golden Horn and the
Bosphourus to industry. Starting in 1940, these areas were
filled with factories and business activities. Due to the
exodus to the cities which started at a major scale in
1950s, reaching larger dimensions with the arrival of
migrants from Balkan countries, these industrial districts
started to be surrounded by squatters. The same trend was
experienced on the Anatolian side, around Maltepe, Kartal
and Pendik.
The expansion of industrial and settlement areas has
drastically changed the visual look of İstanbul over the
past 30 years. With a rapidly growing population and
constantly changing settlement boundaries, establishment of
numerous new administrative districts became inevitable. The
Central District which has become a dense commercial area,
losing its residential functions, now experiences an
incredible fluctiation betwen its day time and night
population also lost its administrative significance. Hence
İstanbul does not posses an administrative central district
similar to those seen in Ankara and İzmir.
The major educational institutions located
in İstanbul are the Boğaziçi, İstanbul, İstanbul
Technical, Marmara, Mimar Sinan and Yıldız Universities.
İstanbul is a cultural center of international character,
and each year several festivals are organised including film
and drama festivals and major concerts are given.
Istanbul also has the honour of being the
cradle of the innovative mode of urban transportation called
"dolmuş" (shared taxi) Turkey which is also seen
in other cities of Turkey and some cities of the world.
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