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Istanbul

Gateway to Eurasia

Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, and the
by Ron McGinty Ottoman Empire for over 16 centuries. The primary religion was
Christianity until 1453 when the Ottomans converted it into a Muslim
sanctuary. Istanbul became part of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
stanbul, Turkey, traverses two
While Ankara is the capital of Turkey, Istanbul is the largest and
continents, Asia and Europe,
most prevalent city in the country.
separated by the Bosphorus Strait.
I I will elaborate on the stark
I felt my heart stop, waiting for a city train, my whole body
differences later. A love of history will
started to wobble from the ground shifting. A newfound travel
instantly unite you with Istanbul.
event, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake! My guide told me, “Not to
The area was inhabited for thousands
worry, it happens frequently.” The population is over 15 million,
of years but became the Greek city of Byzantium around 660BC.
and it appeared all of them were standing outside on the sidewalks
Constantine the Great conquered the land in 300AD and became
as our train pushed along the tracks. Unquestionably, a unique
the Emperor of the Roman Empire, changing the name to
shocker for a southern boy.
Constantinople. The city stood as the capitals of the
18 Life in Naples | January 2020