How did istanbul develop?

Answer 1

Istanbul's development began as Byzantium, a Greek colony founded in the 7th century BCE, strategically located on the Bosporus Strait. It became a significant trade and cultural center under Roman and later Byzantine rule, particularly after Emperor Constantine the Great established it as Constantinople in 330 CE. The city flourished as a capital of the Byzantine Empire, characterized by its architectural marvels, including Hagia Sophia. Following the Ottoman conquest in 1453, Istanbul further expanded, becoming a major center of Islamic culture and trade, which shaped its diverse and rich historical character.