Istanbul is
often described as ‘the crossroads of Europe
and Asia’ – a heaving bazaar-city
of camels, carpets and caravanserais. Such a geographical
description is accurate in that this metropolis
of 15 million occupies both sides of an east–west
land bridge divided by the 32km (20-mile) Bosphorus
Strait, which also connects the trade routes of
the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Mediterranean.
As a result, Istanbul has been a jealously guarded
centre of world trade since the Byzantine era,
when its silks, religious artefacts and luxury
goods were the envy of all empires. Istanbul is
protected
by water on three sides, Istanbul was also the
ideal military watch point, with the natural harbour
of the Golden Horn nestled within the city, perfect
for hiding an entire fleet of warships. Because
of its advantages as fortress, port and commercial
crossroads, it is not surprising that Istanbul’s
imperial history stretches back for more than
1500 years.
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