此地发展的历史可以追溯到公元前7世纪，当时它开始作为一个渔村，并且某个希腊王Byzas建立了这座城市，并称它为拜占庭。在公元前6世纪，世界强国是波斯帝国，并获得了该地区的控制权。最终希腊人在第三世纪掌权，其后是二世纪的罗马人。
在罗马皇帝君士坦丁时代，他看到了权力向东方转移的趋势，并决定将帝国首都从罗马迁往拜占庭（后来更名为君士坦丁堡）。这一直持续到1453年奥斯曼土耳其人占领为止。该城市被土耳其人更名为伊斯坦布尔。此城再次成为了帝国的首都。
奥斯曼帝国在第一次世界大战中失败后几年，土耳其改革成为了共和国。至今伊斯坦布尔仍然是土耳其最大也是最重要的城市（虽然首都现在在安纳卡拉）。
了解这个城市的历史背景，你可以理解为什么考古遗址和历史建筑有如此多的风格混合在一起。
The history of development goes back to 7th century BC, when it started as a fishing village, and a certain king Greek Byzas founded the city, and called it Byzantium. In 6th century, the world power was the Persian Empire, and gained control of the region. Eventually the Greeks came to power in the Third Century, followed by the Romans in the Second Century.
During the times of Roman Emperor Constantine, he saw the trend of power shifting towards the East, and decided to relocate the Empire capital from Rome to Byzantium, (later renamed as Constantinople in his honor). This lasted until the fall of the city to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. The city was renamed as Istanbul by the Turks.
A few years after the defend of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War, Turkey reformed into a Republic country until now. Istanbul still is the largest and most important city of Turkey (although the capital is now in Anakara).
Knowing the city's background, you can understand why there is such a mix of archaeological ruins and historic building.
