| Prehistory |
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Istanbul became very populated residence around 3000 BC. Some small town governments were established during that period of time. Researches have shown that today’s Sultanahmet square and its surroundings were main residential areas at that time.
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| The Byzanthion Period |
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The Megarians came into Istanbul from Greece through the Sea of Marmara in 680 BC. They established a colony on the acropolis above the Golden Horn oposite the Greek Colony of Chalcedon
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| Roman Empire |
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The sovereignty of the Romans over the Byzantine was partially at their own consent. Fed up with being the focus of a long lasting conflict between Bithynia and Macedonia in the 2nd century BC.
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| Byzantine Empire |
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After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, the Eastern Roman Empire of which Constantinople was the capital, became the Byzantine Empire.
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| The Latin Invasion |
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The Emperor Alexius rejoiced at the coming of the first crusaders, hoping to regain lands lost in Malazgirt. The agreement was for the Byzantines to support the crusaders and occupy lands taken from the Muslims.
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| Muslim Sieges of Istanbul |
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Istanbul had been a valuable target since the beginning of the military campaigns of the Muslims. First Muslim Arabs, then Muslim Turks launched numerous military campaigns against Istanbul
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| Ottoman Sieges of Istanbul |
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The last siege attempt during the reign of Sultan yildirim Bayezid occured in 1400. But the Timur problem interfered with this. The siege led by Musa Celebi, son of Sultan Yildirim Bayezid, in 1411 was also unsuccessful.
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| Istanbul Before The Conquest |
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Prior to the fall of Istanbul to the Ottomans, Byzantium had lost its status as a powerful empire: its land mass holdings had shrunk to the territories of Constantinople, Silivri Castle on the Marmara Shore and several small towns
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| The Conquest of Istanbul |
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Preparation for the conquest of Istanbul started only one year ahead. Huge cannons that were necessary for the siege were moulded. In 1452, Rumeli Castle was constructed to control the Bosphorus.
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| Ottoman Empire |
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