One of the reasons why Istanbul can be an awesome city to visit is because this is a city with a long history. As a result of this long history, there are many historical places to visit in Istanbul. Also, through its history this city had many names and today it is known as various things. If you have been wondering what is Istanbul known as, on this post you can get some answers to this question.
Istanbul is known as many different things. One of the reasons behind this variety when it comes to the things that Istanbul is known as is the long history of this city. So one of the answers to the question: “what is Istanbul known as?” is: Istanbul is known as its historical names, such as Constantinople.
However, having a long history is not the only characteristic of this wonderful city. Aside from being a city with a long history, Istanbul is also an important place for Turkey, in terms of culture, tourism and of course, economy. Istanbul is a large city, not only with its population but also with the economic activity in it. So in case you are asking: “what is Istanbul known as?”, we can say that Istanbul is known as the economic center of Turkey, too.
Now, beyond these two things we briefly mentioned, what is Istanbul known as? In addition to being the economic center of Turkey and having many historical names, Istanbul is also known as an amazing city to visit. If you are ready to dive deeper and learn more about the topic: “what is Istanbul known as?”, let’s start!
Table of Contents
1. What is Istanbul Known as? – Constantinople
Have you been wondering what is Istanbul known as? If that is the case, one of the answers we should definitely talk about is that Istanbul is known as Constantinople by many people.
Today, there are some people who refer to Istanbul with its historical name and you may even be wondering why Istanbul is not Constantinople. Even though the city’s official name was changed to Istanbul in the early years of the Republic of Turkey, Istanbul is known as Constantinople by many.
This is basically because of the history of the city. Before the Republic of Turkey, Istanbul was within the borders of the Ottoman Empire. Even during the Ottoman period, the city was referred to as Kostantiniyye, which is just another way to say Constantinople.
Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and before this time, the city was under the control of the Byzantines, which are also known as the Eastern Romans. During the Eastern Roman period, the city was called Constantinople and it was named after Constantine the Great.
Constantine the Great was such a well-known and respected ruler, and the name of the city was Constantinople for a very long time. As a result of this, even today some people refer to Istanbul as Constantinople.
Other Names of Istanbul
One of the answers to the question: “what is Istanbul known as?” is Constantinople. It is one of the names that the city had at some point in its history. As it is a name that stuck over time and it is fairly well-known, Constantinople is definitely worth mentioning when it comes to the things that Istanbul is known as by some.
However, aside from Constantinople, Istanbul had numerous other names through its history and these names are known by some people as well. So if you are wondering what is Istanbul known as, let’s mention some of the other names of Istanbul, too.
One of the historical names of Istanbul was Byzantium. Before the Romans, the Greeks were in the area where Istanbul is located today, and many of them lived in this area. It is thought that the one of the earliest settlements in the area, if not the earliest one, was named Lygos. After this, Byzantium was founded in the 7th century BC.
Aside from Constantinople, Byzantium is actually a very well-known historical name of Istanbul. In fact, the Eastern Roman Empire is also known as the Byzantine Empire. For a long time, the Greeks were the dominant force in the area. But as the Romans kept getting stronger and spreading their influence, they conquered the city at some point.
Aside from Roman and Greek names, the city had various names during the Ottoman period as well. The examples to this include names such as Payitaht, Deraliye, Islambol and Bab-ı Ali.
Why is Istanbul Also Known as Constantinople?
There can be many different answers to the question: “what is Istanbul known as?”. Aside from being an important city in Turkey both in terms of economy and tourism, Istanbul is a city with a long history as well. Due to this, there are many historical names of the city.
We have discussed some of the examples to this, such as Byzantium and Payitaht. Also, another one of the historical names of Istanbul is Constantinople. Although the name of the city was changed and it is no longer Constantinople, or another form of this name, some people may still refer to this city as such. But why is that the case?
Basically, the reason why Istanbul is known as Constantinople by some is due to how well-known and widespread this name was for the city through its history. During the 4th century, the city was named Constantinople, after Constantine the Great.
Even after the conquest of the city by the Ottomans, another form of Constantinople, Kostantiniyye, was used as the name of the city. So for many centuries, people referred to this city as Constantinople and this name just stuck. However, after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, the city’s name was changed to Istanbul and today Istanbul is still the name of the city.
2. The Economic Center of Turkey
As answers to the question: “what is Istanbul known as?”, we mentioned a variety of historical names. But aside from the historical importance of this city, Istanbul is also important for Turkey in terms of economy.
Istanbul is a fairly large city in terms of population and a lot of economic activity happens in this city. One of the reasons why Istanbul is important in terms of economy is due to the location of this city. The city is located between Europe and Asia, which makes it a nice spot for trade.
There is economic activity in financial industry in Istanbul, as well as some industrial activities and tourism is another important sector for the city.
With all the economic activity that is going on in Istanbul, it is the city with the highest GDP in Turkey. In terms of GDP per capita, Istanbul is the second province in Turkey, with the first spot being occupied by Kocaeli.
Historically, Istanbul has been an important place in the area around it, in terms of financial activity and commerce. This was the case during the Byzantine times, as well as the Ottoman period. While the capital of the country was chosen as Ankara as the Republic of Turkey was founded, Istanbul still kept its economic importance for the country.
3. An Awesome City to Visit
Are you wondering what is Istanbul known as? Well, for this question, there may be many different answers. On this post we have talked about the historical names of the city, along with the economic significance of Istanbul.
Aside from these topics, another thing to discuss is that Istanbul is an amazing city to visit. It can offer a lot for tourists, as there are many things to do and lots of places to visit in Istanbul. Visitors can enjoy delicious foods in this city and do many activities like swimming, going on cruises, exploring the city’s streets and enjoying the night life of Istanbul.
Basically, if you are looking for an awesome city to visit, Istanbul can be an incredible option to consider. Moreover, many people know this touristic side of Istanbul, too. Therefore, we can say that Istanbul is also known as an awesome city to visit.
What is Istanbul Known as? – Final Words
As it is a fascinating city with many things to discuss about it, you may have various questions about Istanbul. For instance, you may be wondering: what is Istanbul known as? Istanbul is known as many different things and on this blog post, we have discussed some of those.
It is a city that is known by some with its historical names, such as Constantinople and Byzantium. While these names are no longer the official name of the city, some people may still refer to Istanbul as Constantinople.
Moreover, Istanbul is also known as the financial center of Turkey. Because with lots of econonmic activity going on in the city, Istanbul is the city with the largest GDP in Turkey. Also, along with those things, Istanbul is known as a wonderful place to visit for tourists, as it has a lot to offer for those looking for an enjoyable travel experience.