HISTORY OF ISTANBUL

In the year of 1952, some skeletons and tools were discovered in Kadiköy, which is a big and an old district of Asian part of Istanbul.  These findings which were discovered during an excavation were dated back to 3000 years B.C. This important discovery showed that Asian part of Istanbul was inhabited almost for 5000 years. These were not first findings that showed the signs of old settlements in Istanbul. In 1871, also large stone blocks were found under Topkapi Palace during digging for laying railway. This was an evidence of the old settlements before Greeks settled in Istanbul. Historians accept that Thracians were the first ones to setle in Istanbul. One of the most knew historians, Herodotus also confimed that this was true. Another community that settled in Istanbul in the past is Phoenicians who were known to be dealing with commerce. When we come near to today, we see Iaonians. Sailors from Ionia are known to found colonies at Cyzicus, on the shores of Marmara Sea and Trapezus on the shores of Black Sea in the 8th century B.C. People who lived in Bythinia and the Thinis also took control of a town opposite to Kadiköy.

 
In the 3rd century B.C., in the period of Byzantium, Celt army arrived to Istanbul and the army surrounded the city. This invasion was important because it was the first invasion realized by countries from Balkan Peninsula. It was not a simple invasion; it was one of the longest invasions in the world, lasting for a thousand years. At the end, Byzantium had to accept to pay a tribute to save from destructions of the invasion. Celtic government became unsuccessful and it collapsed in 220 B.C.

Another important event in the history of Istanbul is conquest of Byzantium by Rome. Rome conquered Byzantium towards the end of the 2nd century A.D. The emperor Severus was impressed by the beauty of Istanbul and he started to restore it. Istanbul began to be enlarged by Emperor Constantine starting from 325. Emperor Constantine took the throne of the Empire from Rome and gave it back to Byzantium in 330. This was an important date because Istanbul started to be seen as a magnificient city in the history of the world starting from that date. After 330, Roman Latin culture affected Byzantium for almost 250 years. Roman administration and law systems were accepred and Latin started to be used as the official language.

While Istanbul was called as Secunda Roma at this period, it began to be called “Nova Roma” after 5th century. Because of the name of the city, people living in Istanbul were called as “Romani”.

The Roman Empire divided in two parts in 395 and Byzantium became the capital of the East Roman Empire. Starting from that time, Byzantium had to live under the threat of invasion by the Goths and the Huns. For hundreds of years the history of the city was an endless series of invasions from without, and religious and political struggles within.

Byzantium started to be under Greek cultural influence from beginning of the 7th century, with Heraclius coming to power. Greek became the official language of the state. The reign of Justinian (527-565) is the most brilliant period in Byzantium's history. It is the Golden Age of the Empire, when art and science were at their peak. It was during this period that Saint Sophia was built during this period. This period is also important for conquests. Justinian conquered Italy and North Africa and drove the Vandals and Persians out of Anatolia. But, death of Justinian became the beginning of the decline of Byzantium. The government of Byzantium could control the empire no longer.

the Persian Sasanids who were coming from the East seized Chalcedon (Kadiköy) in 610.  The Avars came to the walls of the city in 622. The Russians, prepared to descend on Byzantium in 860. Hungarians also besieged the city in 934 and 943. In 668 the armies of Islam beseiged Byzantium for many times. They destroyed Byzantine fleet in 655. Until 781, the Arabs mourned 5 expeditions. In the year of 1090, Asian Turks reached to west side of Istanbul and  took possession of Thrace.

But Byzantium was not only dealing with the dangers and threats coming from outside. Inside the empire, it could be said that everything was unstable. Jewish, Russian, German and Turkish soldiers had started to setle in Istanbul in addition to former inhabitants. And all of these people were not living in peace. Whoever had the control of the Thrace protected the interested of their fellows and worked in advantage of them.  Different cultures and religions were dividing the city into different parts. Rising to the power, the Syrians and Amorite dynasties started the Iconoclast movement. The adherents of the movement fought against images of Christ and the Saints, so they destroyed many important works of art between 717 and 820, then again between 820 and 867. And in 1050, separation of the churches became definitive because of the struggle with the Western Church.
 
Italians were also an important therat for Byzantium. Venice that was liberated from Byzantine domination had become a merchant republic and its influence area was increasing. Then, the Italians came as far as Byzantium and settled there to deal with commerce. Because of their power, Byzantium gave them some commercial privileges, and they were exempted from taxes and customs duties. These privileges led them to settle deeper in Istanbul and come near to Golden Horn. They established 4 colonies here and their wealth started to increase. Genoese had the permission to install themselves at Galata. This deveopment led this district to have a rapid expansion.     

Huge animosity of the Byzantines led the way going right to end of Italians wealth in Istanbul. Former inhabitants of Istanbul rose against Italians and  and they massacred 6000 persons. This can be said to be end of Italian expansion in Byzantium.

Crusades also have a significant role in the shaping of history of Byzantium. In the 4th Crusade which was diverted to Byzantium, crusaders disembarked at Yesilköy. Byzantium fell after a long fight in 1204. Latinas destroyed every corner of the town, they destroyed all the sacred boks they found and ravaged churches. Valuable things like gold and silver were taken from people. Until 1261, Latinas reatined Byzantium. Latin occupation had ended the golden age of Byzantium. An deven Byzantium had the power back again, it could never recover the ruins of this destruction. 

Ottomans became the primary enemy of Byzantium starting from the beginning of the 15th century. The Anatolian Turks became independent and self-governing people in the Balkan Peninsula. They had started to get power and day by day they were having more victories. The Sultan Mehmet II who was only at the age of 21 built the fortress of Rumeli Hisari, and blocked the routes. On the night of April 21 the young Sultan had 67 ships hauled from the banks of Tophane to the summit of Beyoglu, and from there down by Kasimpasa, into the Haliç because Byzantines had closed the Golden Horn. The decline of Istanbul did not long last and the City was conquered on the 29th of May 1453.