Overview
From A.D. 330 to 1453, Constantinople served as the capital of the Roman and then of the Byzantine empires. Ottoman Turks conquered the empire in 1453 and renamed the city Istanbul. It was the capital of the Ottoman Empire until 1922. In 1923, with the birth of the Turkish republic, Ankara became the capital. But Istanbul remained the largest city in Turkey. Today, it is Turkey's leading center of industry, trade, and culture. Tourists visit the city to see its bazaars, museums, palaces, Byzantine churches, and world-famous mosques.
Excerpt adapted from the "Istanbul" article, The World Book Encyclopedia, © 1999