For many centuries this city was the capital of the civilized world. Although it is no longer the capital of modern Turkey, it remains, without a doubt, the heartbeat of the Turkish spirit. With a past spanning 3000 years, the greatest part of Istanbul's fascination comes from its place in history and the buildings that remain from ancient times. Here's a quick summary of its past.
1000 - 657 BC
Ancient fishing villages on this site
657 BC - 330 AD
Byzantium, a Greek city-state, later subject to Rome
330 - 1453 AD
Constantinople, the "New Rome", capital of the Later or Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire - reached its height in the 12th century
1453 - 1922 AD
Istanbul, capital of the Ottoman Turkish Empire - reached the height of its glory in the 16th century
1922 - 1984 AD
Ankara becomes the capital of the Turkish Republic. Istanbul continues to be the country's largest city and port, and its commercial and cultural center
1984 - present
Istanbul begins to enjoy a renaissance as 'capital of the East'. A new municipal government undertakes vast schemes to modernize and beautify the city and attract international business operations. New parks, museums and cultural centers are opened, old ones are restored and refurbished.
--Lonely Planet guide to Turkey
