Urban structure of Istanbul during the first century under Ottoman reign

This study is about development, change and restructuring of Istanbul as an Ottoman city during the centuries passed until the death of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in 1566, from Istanbul was conquered by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1453. Firstly, the historical stages of city had been mentioned and the situation just before the conquest of it, was defined, to be able to understand the changes of settlement had experienced during the Ottoman period. In this context, focused titles of the city history; the site state history of the peninsula, declaration of the city as second capital of Rome, the restructuring as a Christian city and the situation of city at the end of a thousand years of life. After touching upon the worldwide meaning and the portraying physical condition of city, at the moment of conquest, transformation of city with the transition to Ottoman dominance were discussed in titles. Traces of physical transformation were generally followed through settlement areas of the city, large-scale constructions and transportation network. The development of the city has been studied under two titles as, period of Mehmet II and ages between 1481 and 1566. During the reign of Mehmet II, the basic elements to make Istanbul an Islamic capital were defined and the relationship with urban heritage was determined. While urban dynamics have been understood by experience, decisions about setting economic mechanisms of the city and solving infrastructure problems have been made and put into practice in this period. The distant locations in different parts of the peninsula of the buildings constructed in this period, defined the functional areas of the city. In the period between 1481 and 1566 (Sultan Bayezid II, Yavuz Sultan Selim and Kanunî Sultan Süleyman), empty areas of city were filled with monumental buildings and smaller structures on the neighborhood scale, the city plan became more detailed and Istanbul has turned into view of an Islamic city. Several buildings have been reconstructed due to fires, earthquakes or new spatial requirements, but generally loyal to placement decisions of the Fatih period. Some areas that have become more precious due to the increase of the urban population are the exception of this situation. As a result of study, it has been understood that some urban functions have remained in the same place for centuries, even though the rulers and city dwellers have changed, due to the topographical and geopolitical features of the city. However, the effects of factors such as political events, wars, administrators' politics, religion, security, access to water and food on the construction and shaping of the city have resulted different civilizations at different periods on the same geography.