Turkey 2008


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October 2008

ISTANBUL

Istanbul (called historically Byzantium and later Constantinople)is Turkey's largest city and is said to be the third largest city in the world. It served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330-395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395-1204) and 1261-1453), the Latin Empire (1204-1261) and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922).

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

After the humiliating Peace of Zsitvatorok following the wars with Persia, Sultan Ahmed 1 decided to build this large mosque to placate Allah. It was built on the site of the palace of the Byzantine Emperors, facing the Hagia Sofia, which at that time was the most venerated mosque in Istanbul. Construction started in 1609 and the mosque was opened in 1617.