Earlier inhabited by Ittites and Celts, it has been for more than 1000 years the heart of Eastern Romane Empire, capital Bizantiun /
Costantinopolis, the present Istanbul.In XV century Otomans took over and its empitre flourished and persisted for more than 7 centuries.
After WW1, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded the Turkish Republic, launching a steady modernization which has led Turkey to the present high standing.