Pre-Byzantine İstanbul

The signs of first communal settlements in Istanbul and its surroundings date back to long years ago. While the first traces extend back to 6. Century B.C., it was discovered by research that some communities have lived in both Anatolian and European side of Istanbul. These first habitants had first lived as nomads and semi-nomads. Then they adopted a communal way of life based on fishing, agriculture and cattle breeding.

Byzantine Period The foundations of today's Istanbul were framed by Megarians coming from Greece during 7. century B.C., a time which was also called 'Period of Byzantine'. Megarians, who reached Istanbul passing through the Sea of Marmara in 680 B.C., established a city in Kadiköy of today called 'Halkedonia'. The community of Halkedonia, which was also referred as 'Country of the Blind', dealt with agriculture in those periods. In years of 660 B.C., another branch of Megarians set up another city where Sarayburnu is located now. According to the legend, Megarians who chose this area upon the advice of the oracle in Delphi Temple named the city 'Byzantine', after their commander-in-chief.

		Ottoman Period The preparation for a conquest of İstanbul, which served as the capital of religions and cultures actually started a year ago. While Fortress of Rumelia was being constructed in 1452 in aim of controlling the Boshporus, huge canons were cast to be used in the siege. The armed forces were doubled in number. While hectic preparations were being made on land, a very powerful navy force comprised of 16 galleys was formed for the attacks from the sea.

Geography Istanbul, The main reason of Istanbul's being a very popular city for which wars are made, lives are lost is its geographical location, Let's review this location first: In its south stretches Marmara Sea and in its north is Black Sea. Its west part is in Europe and east part is in Asia. The important waterline dividing Istanbul into two is the Bosphorus. The only alternative to reach the Aegean Sea and the Meditteranean Sea, therefore to open sea is to use Istanbul and the the Bosphorus.Istanbul is both the nearest Asian city to Europe and the nearest European city to Asia.

What adds to Istanbul's significance is its being a port city and all trade paths, passing through the city for thousands of years. Another important feature of Istanbul is that it has a highly sheltered structure. Especially the center which is presently called as the 'historical peninsula',which was made capital city by both Byzantine and Ottoman Empires and its being located on a hill surrounded by three seas made it almost impossible to be conquered. Indeed, Haliç had the quality of being an unparalleled harbour sheltering navy fleets.

İstanbul, still geographically perfect! Although thousands of years have passed, İstanbul still maintains its geographical importance. Today İstanbul is a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures, religions and being home to eleven million people; and one of the greatest business and cultural center of the region…

İstanbul by Numbers

Economy
As well as being a capital to three empires, Istanbul is one of the very few cities which is able to maintain its quality of being an economical center. Indeed, although not serving as capital to the new republic declared in 1923, it kept its economically central position and never lost this power to determine the fate of the country.

The population of Istanbul, which was 1 million 78 thousand people in 1945, increased to 1 million and 533 thousand with the growth after 1950 and in the following periods, became 7 million 309 thousand in 1990 with an annual increase of 40-50 per thousand, and 9 million 199 thousand in 1997, and became a city with over 10 million people according to the census in 2000. If we briefly look at the economy and business life of the city, the share of Istanbul in the Turkey's gross national product is 23 percent. Annual contribution of Istanbul to state budget is 40 percent, but in return the share it receives from the state expenditures is around 7-8 percent. The headquarters of all private banks and 21 percent of total bank branches in Turkey are located in Istanbul.

Export and import gate
Istanbul has a central importance in both domestic and international trade. The added value created in Istanbul, reaches 26.5 percent of provincial total added value and trade is the second most important sector in Istanbul after industry. In Turkey, 27 percent of the general added value created in commercial sector is created by Istanbul. Istanbul is at the same time the most important export and import gate of Turkey. The export of Istanbul makes up 46 percent of Turkey total and the import of Istanbul makes up 40 percent of Turkey total. Istanbul has at hand a great chance thanks to its being center of tourism and a congress. One-fourth of the hotel capacity is owned by five star hotels and almost one-fifth is owned by four star hotels. Istanbul is also the center of country's air transport. Along with Atatürk Airport, Pendik Sabiha Gökçen airport on the Anatolian side is serving Istanbul, 14 out of 153 museums in Turkey is located