Constantinople

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Constantinople (Greek: Κωνσταντινούπολις, Konstantinoúpolis, or ἡ Πόλις hē Pólis, Latin: CONSTANTINOPOLIS, in formal Ottoman Turkish: قسطنطينيه Konstantiniyye) was the imperial capital (Gr: Βασιλεύουσα, Basileúousa) of the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine/Eastern Roman Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). Strategically located between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara at the point where Europe meets Asia, Byzantine Constantinople had been the capital of a Christian empire, successor to ancient Greece and Rome. Throughout the Middle Ages Constantinople was Europe's largest[1] and wealthiest city.

Depending on the background of its rulers, it often had several different names at any given time; among the most common were Byzantium (Gr.:Βυζάντιον, Byzántion), New Rome (Gr.: Νέα Ῥώμη Néa Rhōmē, Latin: Nova Roma), Constantinople, and Stamboul. It was also called Tsargrad ("City of the Emperors") by the Slavs, while to the Vikings it was known as Miklagård, "the Great City", similar to the common Greek appellation "the City" (ἡ Πόλις, hē Pólis).

It was officially renamed to its modern Turkish name Istanbul in 1930[2][3] with the Turkish Postal Service Law, as part of Atatürk's national reforms.[4][5] This name in turn derives from the Greek phrase eis tēn polin ("to the City [Constantinople]").

[edit] Byzantium

Constantinople was founded by the Roman emperor Constantine I on the site of an already existing city, Byzantium, settled in the early days of Greek colonial expansion, probably around 671-662 BC. The site lay astride the land route from Europe to Asia and the seaway from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, and had in the Golden Horn an excellent and spacious harbour.