Level: A
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
Behind her, to the east, the sun is rising over the high-rise apartment building where she lives.
Every day, thousands of Turks like Meryem commute back and forth across the Bosporus Strait. In the morning, they leave their homes in Asia for their jobs in Europe. At night, they return to Asia. In the course of their commute, they never leave Istanbul. This is because the city spans two continents: the eastern section of Istanbul lies in Asia, while the western portion is located in Europe.
Istanbul’s unique location has helped to boost its population to nearly triple that of the next largest city in Turkey. Many other countries also have a dominant city that is by far their largest and most important one. Geographers have a name for such an urban area: they call it a primate city. The word primate means “highest ranking.”
In this lesson, you will read about the traits of primate cities. You will also discover how geography, history, and culture have come together to make Istanbul a primate city.
Level: A
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
The Site of Constantinople This illustration from the 1400s shows the site of Constantinople. The city is located on the tip of a peninsula. This location made it easy to wall off the city for protection from invasion by land. In times of danger, the city also put a chain across the Bosporus Strait. The chain helped protect against invasion by sea.
1. The Geographic Setting
Founded more than 2,500 years ago, the city now called Istanbul has been known by three different names during the course of its long history. The ancient Greeks
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
Level: A
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
who first settled there called the city Byzantium. The Romans changed its name to Constantinople, and the Turks later renamed the city Istanbul. Under each name, the city has thrived as a center of trade, government, and culture. Throughout much of its history, it was also a primate city.
Istanbul’s Favorable Site and Situation The city has survived for so long because of its favorable location. Geographers describe a place’s location in two ways. First, they look at a place’s site, or its physical characteristics. Second, they look at its situation, which is the position of a place in relation to its surrounding area.
The site of this city was well chosen—it was built at the tip of a peninsula with a natural harbor. Having water on three sides helped to protect the city from overland attack. And the peninsula is flat, fertile, and well watered, which makes it productive for farming.
The city’s situation was equally well chosen. The city was built on the Bosporus Strait, a narrow waterway that links the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The strait is part of a waterway that flows from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The Bosporus Strait also marks the dividing line between Europe and Asia. In ancient times, trade routes from three continents—Europe, Asia, and Africa—met at this point, with trade goods flowing into the city from as far as China, Russia, and East Africa.
The Capital of Three Empires The Greeks were the first to appreciate Istanbul’s location, but they would not be the last. Over time, the city would serve as the capital of three great empires.
Byzantium became part of the Roman Empire in 196 C.E. Almost four centuries later, the Roman emperor Constantine moved his government there, and in 330 C.E., he made Byzantium the new capital city of the Roman Empire. A capital city is the center of government for a state, country, or empire. The new capital was renamed Constantinople after the emperor.
The western part of the Roman Empire fell in the late 400s, but the eastern part survived, becoming the Byzantine Empire. This empire grew to include much of Southwest Asia and parts of Eastern Europe. The Byzantine Empire lasted for the next 1,000 years, with Constantinople as its capital. During this time, the city’s wealth attracted invaders, but the strong city walls held them back.
By 1300, a group of Turks called the Ottomans began to conquer Southwest Asia. In 1453, the Ottomans took over Constantinople as well. They renamed the city Istanbul and made it the capital of their growing Ottoman Empire.
Level: A
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
In 1922, the Ottoman Empire fell apart. Istanbul became part of the modern country of Turkey in 1923, but it did not become Turkey’s capital city. That honor went to the smaller city of Ankara. Even so, Istanbul remains one of the world’s great primate cities. ▶ Geoterms
capital city a city that is the governmental center of a country or region. Sometimes a capital city is also a primate city. primate city the largest and most important city in a country. A primate city has at least twice the population of the next largest city. It is a center of economic power and national culture. site the specific place where something is located, including its physical setting situation the way a place is positioned in relation to its wider surroundings
The Situation of Constantinople Constantinople was situated between Asia and Europe. Trade goods came from Asia by land and by sea. Other goods came from Africa and Europe. By 1000
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
Level: A
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
B.C.E., trade had helped elevate Constantinople to one of the world’s largest cities.
Istanbul’s Site and Situation Istanbul has outgrown its original peninsula site. Its situation, however, remains the same. The city has access by water to two seas, and it is surrounded by fertile farmland. These factors contributed to its becoming a primate city.
2. A Country's Largest City by Far
Mustafa moved to Istanbul to make money so that he could afford to marry his girlfriend. He is a barber and works in the heart of the city. Before moving to Istanbul, Mustafa lived in a small town where he knew everyone. Now, he walks among crowds of strangers in Istanbul. Mustafa's story is similar to the experiences of countless people living in this busy primate city.
At the Top of the Urban Hierarchy Primate cities are located at the top of the urban hierarchy. A hierarchy is a ranking system, and an urban hierarchy ranks cities according to their size and the services they offer. A primate city is by far a country's highest-ranking city in terms of size, having at least twice as many
Level: A
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
people as the next largest city. A primate city also ranks first in terms of other attractive cultural factors, from schools and jobs to shopping and sports.
Istanbul is Turkey's largest city by a wide margin. In 2015, about 14 million people
lived there. By comparison, Turkey's second largest urban area, the capital city of Ankara, had only 4.7 million people. Istanbul is so large that one out of every five Turks lives there.
Drawing Migrants from Rural Villages Primate cities act like magnets, attracting and pulling people from many of the surrounding towns and villages. Each year, more than 400,000 people relocate to Istanbul. Like Mustafa, many of these newcomers leave rural villages in search of work, education, and excitement in the
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
Level: A
The Urban Hierarchy This diagram shows the ranking of urban places in terms of size and importance. Primate cities stand at the top of the urban hierarchy. A primate city has at least twice as many people as any other city in that country. People are drawn to primate cities because they provide more opportunities than smaller areas.
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
big city.
This rural-to-urban migration can cause problems, as some primate cities are growing too fast to meet the needs of their residents. Many of Istanbul's new arrivals, for example, are unable to find affordable housing. For a time, they built temporary shelters on open land on the city's outskirts. Turks call these shantytowns gecekondus, a Turkish word that means "built overnight." These neighborhoods sometimes lack such basic services as running water, electricity, and garbage collection. Regulations have been imposed in recent years to halt gecekondu construction. Now, existing gecekondu neighborhoods are being transformed into mass housing units and apartment blocks.
Additionally, Istanbul suffers from heavy traffic and air pollution. Sewage has dirtied the city's waterways, and many homes have poor plumbing. The city has attempted to address these problems by introducing initiatives to pedestrianize the city, but the impact of these efforts are currently unclear. Still, people continue to migrate to Istanbul, and the city remains at the top of Turkey's urban hierarchy.
3. A Center of Economic Power
Level: A
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
Large ships rest in Istanbul’s harbor, holding huge containers that are filled with goods either entering or leaving Turkey. All day long, gigantic cranes lift the containers and place them on ship decks or truck beds. For many centuries, Istanbul has been characterized by the domes of its many mosques. Today, the cranes also symbolize this bustling city.
A Hub of Business, Trade, and Travel Istanbul is the economic center of Turkey, comprising almost half of the country’s industrial production and jobs. Nearly half of all goods bought and sold in Turkey pass through the city, and it is also Turkey’s banking center.
Istanbul’s busy port welcomes ships from all over the world. Ships arrive carrying machinery, oil, metals, medicines, plastics, and chemicals, and leave with textiles, clothing, steel products, foods, and minerals.
The city connects Turkey to the rest of the world, and has been a railroad center since the early days of train travel. Rail passengers took the famous Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul, and from there they boarded the Baghdad Railway to travel into Southwest Asia. Modern visitors arrive by air and ship as well. Most people who travel to Turkey start or end their visit in Istanbul.
No Longer the Capital City Many primate cities are also capital cities.
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
Government buildings and offices are housed there, and legislatures assemble in these cities to make laws.
As you have read, Istanbul was once both a primate city and a capital city. However, it lost its place as a capital city in 1923, when the Republic of Turkey was formed. The president of the new country, Kemal Ataturk, wanted Turkey to have a capital that had not been the center of ancient empires. By choosing Ankara as the capital city, he hoped to show the world that Turkey was very modern. Still, Istanbul remains Turkey’s primate city.
Ships on the Bosporus Strait Every year, tens of thousands of ships move through Turkey’s Bosporus Strait. All of this shipping makes the Bosporus the world’s most crowded waterway. Its narrow passages and tricky turns also make it one of the most dangerous.
4. A Center of National Life and Culture
Every day, almost 500,000 people shop in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. A bazaar is somewhat like a shopping mall. Instead of stores, however, a bazaar has stalls, and instead of hired salespeople, it has traders who sell their goods. With more than 60 streets and over 4,000 shops—all under one roof—the Grand Bazaar is one o
f the largest covered markets in the world. It is not only a hub for buying and selling goods, but also a cultural center where people come to socialize and enjoy traditional Turkish foods and beverages.
Istanbul is also known for its rich history and diverse architecture. The city is home to numerous historical landmarks, including the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace. These sites attract millions of tourists each year, further adding to Istanbul's vibrant cultural scene.
In addition to its historical sites, Istanbul is a center for art, music, and literature. The city hosts numerous art galleries, music festivals, and literary events throughout the year. Istanbul's vibrant cultural scene reflects the city's status as Turkey's primate city, where national life and culture converge.
Overall, Istanbul's unique geography, history, and culture have contributed to its status as a primate city. As Turkey's largest and most important city, Istanbul serves as a hub for economic activity, urban growth, and cultural exchange. Despite facing challenges such as rapid urbanization and environmental concerns, Istanbul remains a dynamic and thriving metropolis at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Highlight vocab words in orange, and then underline the definition in ORANGE
Level: A
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
Behind her, to the east, the sun is rising over the high-rise apartment building where she lives.
Every day, thousands of Turks like Meryem commute back and forth across the Bosporus Strait. In the morning, they leave their homes in Asia for their jobs in Europe. At night, they return to Asia. In the course of their commute, they never leave Istanbul. This is because the city spans two continents: the eastern section of Istanbul lies in Asia, while the western portion is located in Europe.
Istanbul’s unique location has helped to boost its population to nearly triple that of the next largest city in Turkey. Many other countries also have a dominant city that is by far their largest and most important one. Geographers have a name for such an urban area: they call it a **primate city**. The word **primate** means "highest ranking."
In this lesson, you will read about the traits of **primate cities**. You will also discover how geography, history, and culture have come together to make Istanbul a **primate city**.
Level: A
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
The Site of Constantinople This illustration from the 1400s shows the site of Constantinople. The city is located on the tip of a peninsula. This location made it easy to wall off the city for protection from invasion by land. In times of danger, the city also put a chain across the Bosporus Strait. The chain helped protect against invasion by sea.
1. The Geographic Setting
Founded more than 2,500 years ago, the city now called Istanbul has been known by three different names during the course of its long history. The ancient Greeks
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
Level: A
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
who first settled there called the city Byzantium. The Romans changed its name to Constantinople, and the Turks later renamed the city Istanbul. Under each name, the city has thrived as a center of trade, government, and culture. Throughout much of its history, it was also a **primate city**.
Istanbul’s Favorable Site and Situation The city has survived for so long because of its favorable location. Geographers describe a place’s location in two ways. First, they look at a place’s **site**, or its physical characteristics. Second, they look at its **situation**, which is the position of a place in relation to its surrounding area.
The **site** of this city was well chosen—it was built at the tip of a peninsula with a natural harbor. Having water on three sides helped to protect the city from overland attack. And the peninsula is flat, fertile, and well watered, which makes it productive for farming.
The city’s **situation** was equally well chosen. The city was built on the Bosporus Strait, a narrow waterway that links the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The strait is part of a waterway that flows from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The Bosporus Strait also marks the dividing line between Europe and Asia. In ancient times, trade routes from three continents—Europe, Asia, and Africa—met at this point, with trade goods flowing into the city from as far as China, Russia, and East Africa.
The Capital of Three Empires The Greeks were the first to appreciate Istanbul’s location, but they would not be the last. Over time, the city would serve as the capital of three great empires.
Byzantium became part of the Roman Empire in 196 C.E. Almost four centuries later, the Roman emperor Constantine moved his government there, and in 330 C.E., he made Byzantium the new capital city of the Roman Empire. A **capital city** is the center of government for a state, country, or empire. The new capital was renamed Constantinople after the emperor.
The western part of the Roman Empire fell in the late 400s, but the eastern part survived, becoming the Byzantine Empire. This empire grew to include much of Southwest Asia and parts of Eastern Europe. The Byzantine Empire lasted for the next 1,000 years, with Constantinople as its capital. During this time, the city’s wealth attracted invaders, but the strong city walls held them back.
By 1300, a group of Turks called the Ottomans began to conquer Southwest Asia. In 1453, the Ottomans took over Constantinople as well. They renamed the city Istanbul and made it the capital of their growing Ottoman Empire.
Level: A
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
I S T A N B U L: A P R I M A T E ...
In 1922, the Ottoman Empire fell apart. Istanbul became part of the modern country of Turkey in 1923, but it did not become Turkey’s **capital city**. That honor went to the smaller city of Ankara. Even so, Istanbul remains one of the world’s great **primate cities**. ▶ Geoterms
**capital city** a city that is the governmental center of a country or region. Sometimes a **capital city** is also a **primate city**. **primate city** the largest and most important city in a country. A **primate city** has at least twice the population of the next largest city. It is a center of economic power and national culture. **site** the specific place where something is located, including its physical setting **situation** the way a place is positioned in relation to its wider surroundings
The Situation of Constantinople Constantinople was situated between Asia and Europe. Trade goods came from Asia by land and by sea. Other goods came from Africa and Europe. By 1000
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
Level: A
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
B.C.E., trade had helped elevate Constantinople to one of the world’s largest cities.
Istanbul’s **site** and **situation** Istanbul has outgrown its original peninsula site. Its **situation**, however, remains the same. The city has access by water to two seas, and it is surrounded by fertile farmland. These factors contributed to its becoming a **primate city**.
2. A Country's Largest City by Far
Mustafa moved to Istanbul to make money so that he could afford to marry his girlfriend. He is a barber and works in the heart of the city. Before moving to Istanbul, Mustafa lived in a small town where he knew everyone. Now, he walks among crowds of strangers in Istanbul. Mustafa's story is similar to the experiences of countless people living in this busy **primate city**.
At the Top of the Urban Hierarchy A hierarchy is a ranking system, and an urban hierarchy ranks cities according to their size and the services they offer. A **primate city** is by far a country's highest-ranking city in terms of size, having at least twice as many
Level: A
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
I S T A N B U L : A P R I M A T E ...
people as the next largest city. A **primate city** also ranks first in terms of other attractive cultural factors, from schools and jobs to shopping and sports.
Istanbul is Turkey's largest city by a wide margin. In 2015, about 14 million people
lived there. By comparison, Turkey's second largest urban area, the **capital city** of Ankara, had only 4.7 million people. Istanbul is so large that one out of every five Turks lives there.
Drawing Migrants from Rural Villages A **primate city** is by far the country's highest-ranking city in terms of size, having at least twice as many people as the next largest city. A primate city also ranks first in terms of other attractive cultural factors, from schools and jobs to shopping and sports.
Istanbul is Turkey's largest city by a wide margin. In 2015, about 14 million people
lived there. By comparison, Turkey's second largest urban area, the **capital city** of Ankara, had only 4.7 million people. Istanbul is so large that one out of every five Turks lives there.
**Drawing Migrants from Rural Villages** A primate city is like a magnet, attracting and pulling people from many of the surrounding towns and villages. Each year, more than 400,000 people relocate to Istanbul. Like Mustafa, many of these newcomers leave rural villages in search of work, education, and excitement in the big city.
This rural-to-urban migration can cause problems, as some **primate cities** are growing too fast to meet the needs of their residents. Many of Istanbul's new arrivals, for example, are unable to find affordable housing. For a time, they built temporary shelters on open land on the city's outskirts. Turks call these shantytowns **gecekondus**, a Turkish word that means "built overnight." These neighborhoods sometimes lack such basic services as running water, electricity, and garbage collection. Regulations have been imposed in recent years to halt **gecekondu** construction. Now, existing **gecekondu** neighborhoods are being transformed into mass housing units and apartment blocks.
Additionally, Istanbul suffers from heavy traffic and air pollution. Sewage has dirtied the city's waterways, and many homes have poor plumbing. The city has attempted to address these problems by introducing initiatives to pedestrianize the city, but the impact of these efforts are currently unclear. Still, people continue to migrate to Istanbul, and the city remains at the top of Turkey's urban hierarchy.
3. A Center of Economic Power
Level: A
© 2024 Teachers' Curriculum Institute
Large ships rest in Istanbul’s harbor, holding huge containers that are filled with goods either entering or leaving Turkey. All day long, gigantic cranes lift the containers and place them on ship decks or truck beds. For many centuries, Istanbul has been characterized by the domes of its many mosques. Today, the cranes also symbolize this bustling city.
A Hub of Business, Trade, and Travel Istanbul is the economic center of Turkey, comprising almost half of the country’s industrial production and jobs. Nearly half of all goods bought and sold in Turkey pass through the city, and it is also Turkey’s banking center.
Istanbul’s busy port welcomes ships from all over the world. Ships arrive carrying machinery, oil, metals, medicines, plastics, and chemicals, and leave with textiles, clothing, steel products, foods, and minerals.
The city connects Turkey to the rest of the world, and has been a railroad center since the early days of train travel. Rail passengers took the famous Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul, and from there they boarded the Baghdad Railway to travel into Southwest Asia. Modern visitors arrive by air and ship as well. Most people who travel to Turkey start or end their visit in Istanbul.
No Longer the **Capital City** Many **primate cities** are also **capital cities**. Government buildings and offices are housed there, and legislatures assemble in these cities to make laws.
As you have read, Istanbul was once both a **primate city** and a **capital city**. However, it lost its place as a **capital city** in 1923, when the Republic of Turkey was formed. The president of the new country, Kemal Ataturk, wanted Turkey to have a **capital** that had not been the center of ancient empires. By choosing Ankara as the **capital city**, he hoped to show the world that Turkey was very modern. Still, Istanbul remains Turkey’s **primate city**.
Ships on the Bosporus Strait Every year, tens of thousands of ships move through Turkey’s Bosporus Strait. All of this shipping makes the Bosporus the world’s most crowded waterway. Its narrow passages and tricky turns also make it one of the most dangerous.
4. A Center of National Life and Culture
Every day, almost 500,000 people shop in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. A bazaar is somewhat like a shopping mall. Instead of stores, however, a bazaar has stalls, and instead of hired salespeople, it has traders who sell their goods. With more than 60 streets and over 4,000 shops—all under one roof—the Grand Bazaar is one of the largest covered markets in the world. It is not only a hub for buying and selling goods, but also a cultural center where people come to socialize and enjoy traditional Turkish foods and beverages.
Istanbul is also known for its rich history and diverse architecture. The city is home to numerous historical landmarks, including the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace. These sites attract millions of tourists each year, further adding to Istanbul's vibrant cultural scene.
In addition to its historical sites, Istanbul is a center for art, music, and literature. The city hosts numerous art galleries, music festivals, and literary events throughout the year. Istanbul's vibrant cultural scene reflects the city's status as Turkey's **primate city**, where national life and culture converge.
Overall, Istanbul's unique geography, history, and culture have contributed to its status as a **primate city**. As Turkey's largest and most important city, Istanbul serves as a hub for economic activity, urban growth, and cultural exchange. Despite facing challenges such as rapid urbanization and environmental concerns, Istanbul remains a dynamic and thriving metropolis at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
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