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Pre-Byzantine Istanbul 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. Especially in researches in Fikirtepe, it was found out that back in year 6000 B.C, animals such as dogs, goats, cattle and pigs were domesticated and the habitants took up fishing. In the advent of 3000 B.C., there is an intense settlement activity starting in Istanbul. This period enabled the arising of small governed city units (beylik). Researches reveal that Sultanahmet Square of today and its surroundings had been center to a major settlement. 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. Byzantine developed in a short period of time thanks to its location, making it a trading-based and strategically privileged city of defense, and became an independent and powerful site with its currency exchangeable within Greek Colonies. In year 513 B.C., Byzantine and Halkedonia were conquered by Persians who marched passing through Anatolia. However, Spartan commander Pausantas who achieved a victory against Persians in year 489 B.C., saved Byzantine from the rule of Persians and reigned the city until 4777 B.C. At this date Athenians took over the control of the city and Byzantine became a part of Delos Union led by Athens in 4767 B.C. Byzantine survived the attack of Germanic tribes coming from the west in year 278 B.C. Then the city was governed by Roman Empire when Romans were stretching their territory from Balkans to Asia Minor in 16 B.B. after Macedonian Wars. By Byzantine's being taken over by Romans, its status of city-country of 700 years was over. However, it sustained its privileges. Until 2.century A.D., the only occurrence which shook Byzantine which lived a 350-years period of tranquility was its support of Pescenius in the war between Septimus Severus and Pescenius Niger. Septimus, who won the victory in 195-196 A.D., took revenge by destroying Byzantine and slaughtering its people. In year 330, Roman Emperor Constantine the First declared Byzantine as the new capital. The city was re-built and named “Constantinopolis”. In the period of Constantine the First, it became one of the most influential religious and political center of the world of Christianity. The city was a scene to some attacks during 4. and 5.centuries. The attacking forces were particularly Goths and and Vizigoths. In 440, Hun Emperor Atilla attacked the city. Tax were paid to Huns until year 450. However, in spite of all these, Constantinopolis maintained its significance in this period. The population of the city exceeded that of Rome in 5. century, with the communities brought from Thrace. In 476, Ostrogoths dethroned Western Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus and handed the Empire to the reign of Eastern Roman Emperor Zenon. Therefore, Western Roman Empire became a thing of the past. But at the same time, Constantinopolis became the only capital of Roman Empire. Eastern Roman Empire had turned into Byzantine Empire and Constantinopolis was no more a Roman city and became a peculiarly eastern Orthodox city. The middle of 6. century became the beginning of a new rising period for Byzantine Empire, and therefore, for Istanbul. In the period of Emperor Justinian, who was a religious and educated person in contrast to his even illiterate predecessor, the city gained a vision of a proper Orthodox Christian capital. St. Sophia, which was damaged previously, was built in its present form in that period. The plaque epidemic which spread in the city in year 543, killed almost half of the inhabitants of the city. The city had undergone constant catastrophes. Nevertheless, the structure built particularly by Emperor I. Justinian equipped Istanbul with a resistance against every kind of war and disaster. In 1204, the city was taken over by Crusaders and raided ruthlessly. The greatest city of the Middle Age turned into a poor, devastated city with a population of 40-50 thousand. |
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