By Mehmet Kurtkaya
Founder of Twarp.com, exploring Turkey since 1995
Last updated: May 10, 2026

Ottoman, Byzance (East Roman), Neolithic History Resources on Istanbul

Quick Links: Istanbul Travel Guide Istanbul History History of Anatolia

News of the discovery of Neolithic settlements in Istanbul (BBC) — 2008 discovery proving human habitation 8,500 years ago

Urban community sizes throughout History (Wikipedia)

Phoenicians — Built an ancient trade colony in Istanbul (Yoros Castle area)

Constantinople Imperial District (Wikimedia) — Great Palace and the surrounding area

Byzantine Empire (East Roman Empire) territorial map (Wikipedia)

Battle of Chrysopolis (Wikipedia) — Constantine's victory that united the Roman Empire

Ottoman Empire territory at its height (Wikipedia)

Additional Resources

Insider Tip: The Neolithic discovery in 2008 (BBC article above) changed the understanding of Istanbul's history. The Marmaray tunnel excavations uncovered artifacts proving human settlement dating back to 6400 BC — meaning people walked from Asia to Europe across the Bosphorus, which was then a valley, before the sea filled it around 5600 BC.

Related History Resources: History of Anatolia Short History of Istanbul Göbeklitepe Guide

About the Author

Mehmet Kurtkaya is the founder of Twarp.com, one of the web's longest-running Turkey travel resources (est. 1995). His research into Anatolia's ancient civilizations is published in Who Built Göbeklitepe and Echoes of the Ice: How Migrations Made Civilizations.