Istanbul is the largest city in
Turkey and the only city built
on two continents – Europe and
Asia. It has a population
estimated at between 12 and
14 million. Istanbul was
established by the Romans
on the site of the Greek colony
of Byzantium and named
Constantinople after the
Emperor Constantine. The city
became the eastern capital of
the Roman Empire and later the
capital of the Byzantine Empire. Constantinople was captured
by the Ottoman Empire in 1453
and soon became its capital.