Istanbul: Did you mean...?

With its strategic location on the Bosphorus peninsula between the Balkans and Anatolia, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, Istanbul has been associated with major political, religious and artistic events for more than 2,000 years. Its...

How has this unique structure, built on a seismic fault, survived centuries of quakes?

Mehmed II (1432-1481 CE), also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, was the seventh and among the greatest sultans of the Ottoman Empire. His conquests consolidated Ottoman rule in Anatolia and the Balkans, and he most famously triumphed in conquering...

White marble door of the Hagia Sophia, photograph by Juan Ángel Piqueras, Istanbul, 25 February, 2026. The Marble Door (also known as “Gate of Heaven and Hell”) in Hagia Sophia’s south upper gallery marks the threshold between the western...

This antique map of Turkey depicts the surroundings of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) and was published by the British War Office in 1909. It offers a detailed view of the region at the beginning of the 20th century, reflecting both...

An artist's depiction of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, as it may have appeared in 537 CE. From the game Old World.

Artist's impression of a discussion between a man and a woman in an ancient Byzantine church. Created by Amplitude Studios for the video game Humankind.

The Byzantine Empire existed from 330 to 1453. It is often called the Eastern Roman Empire or simply Byzantium. The Byzantine capital was founded at Constantinople by Constantine I (r. 306-337). The Byzantine Empire varied in size over the...

Islam is an Abrahamic-monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah (l. 570-632 CE, after whose name Muslims traditionally add “peace be upon him” or, in writing, PBUH). Alongside Christianity and Judaism...

The Theodosian Walls are the fortifications of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire, which were first built during the reign of Theodosius II (408-450 CE). Sometimes known as the Theodosian Long Walls, they built upon and extended...