History, heritage and culture in Istanbul
Indiana University Press - September 23rd, 2014
To look out at the beautiful and busy Bosphorus strait here in the
transcontinental city of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, is to be
simply awestruck by the convergence of centuries upon centuries of
history, heritage and culture.
For nearly 16 centuries in fact, this city, which straddles Europe
and Asia, served as the epicenter of four empires: the Roman Empire
(330-395), the Byzantine Empire (395-1204, 1261-1453), the Latin Empire
(1204-1261) and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922). Today, Istanbul is a
buzzing, modern metropolis, its marvelously eclectic skyline dotted by
mosques, cathedrals, towers and other historic structures, its bustling,
hilly roads lined with cafes, restaurants, shops, street vendors and
countless stray, but seemingly satisfied, cats.
It’s easy to see why the cats aren’t clawing to get out: Thus far,
we’ve only been in this breathtaking city a day, and already it feels as
if we’ve arrived at the center of this most important part of the
world.
IU’s impact in Turkey
Indiana University’s connection to the historical and economic hub
that is Turkey dates back more than 70 years. Currently, IU serves as
the leading center in the U.S. for the study of Ottoman and modern
Turkish language; is considered to be among the nation’s premier
programs for the broader study of Turkish culture and history; and
features the prestigious Turkish Flagship Center, the only federally funded program in this area.
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