Istanbul A Primate City Throughout History What is

Istanbul A Primate City Throughout History

What is a 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 the center of economic power and national culture.

The Geographic Setting • Byzantium > Constantinople > Istanbul • Site- natural setting of a place

The Geographic Setting • Byzantium > Constantinople > Istanbul • Situation – position of a place in relation to its surrounding area

The Capital of Three Empires • • • Greek Empire until 196 CE Byzantium became the Roman capital Roman empire fell in the late 400 s Byzantine empire lasted the next 1000 yrs 1453 Ottoman Turks took over • 1922 Ottoman empire fell > Modern Turkey

A Country’s Largest City by Far • At the top of the Urban Hierarchy – population 2 X that of the next largest city – Istanbul + 2 X the population of Ankara • Migration to primate cities > looking for jobs, education, and excitement • Overcrowded and develop problems.

A Center of Economic Power • A hub of business, trade and travel – As a center for plane, ship, and train travel, Istanbul connects Turkey with the rest of the world. • Many primate cities are also capital cities. – Istanbul no longer

A Center of National Life and Culture • Primate cities are cultural capitals. In Istanbul, one can find goods and landmarks that highlight Turkey’s culture.