The History of Istanbul
The culture and history of Istanbul are evident in every corner of Istanbul. It separates Asia and Europe but concurrently brings different cultures and histories from both continents to our attention. Being the second-largest busiest waterway in Europe, Istanbul is one of the very few modern cities in the world with rich historical significance and culture.
Istanbul had been the capital of the Ottoman Empire before it was changed to Ankara by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk when he established The Republic of Turkey. Up until March 28, 1930, Istanbul was known as Byzantium in 330 and Constantinople in 1453. In 1950 the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The majority population of Turkey consists of Muslims. Christians and Jews are considered minorities. Istanbul is the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the head of the Orthodox Church.
A crucial demographic change occurred in Istanbul in 1970 due to the immigrants from Anatolia and many factories built on Istanbul's outskirts. Istanbul today is one of the most visited cities in Europe by millions of tourists around the world!
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