Istanbul

Istanbul

One City, Two Worlds A ship arrives at the port of a grand city, carrying goods from Europe to Asia. Parts of this amazing city are on each continent. This is Istanbul, Turkey. Over fifteen million people live here. Over the years, Istanbul has had other rulers and other names. Its story is told through its beautiful landmarks.

Where in the World? Istanbul is in the northwest corner of Turkey. It lies on both sides of a natural waterway called the Strait of Bosphorus (BAHS-fuh-ruhs). This waterway connects two seas. Istanbul has the most people of any city in Europe.

History Istanbul has been an important port since long ago. It is on the only trade route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The location has also helped people spread ideas between the East and West. People have lived in this part of the world since 7500 BCE. Byzas brought his settlers there around 660 BCE.

Istanbul has been the capital of four empires. Its name was changed to Constantinople in the early 400s CE to honor the Roman ruler Constantine the Great. It became an Ottoman (AH- tuh-muhn) city called Konstantiniyye (KOHN-stahn-tin-yeh) in 1453. The city has been called Istanbul since 1930. Many landmarks and parts of the city have been destroyed and rebuilt over the years. Let's visit some of Istanbul's most interesting landmarks.

Underground Cistern The Underground Cistern is a huge water tank that is no longer used. Long ago, it was the most important water supply for the city. The cistern is made up of 336 stone posts with arches between them. Water for the tank came from a lake near the Black Sea.