Product Description

Byzantium - Constantinople - Istanbul: founded as a Greek settlement on the Bosporus, the city's history is replete with significant political and cultural developments. The Hagia Sophia stems from the early Christian era, the Middle Ages bequeathed us churches and monasteries rich in mosiacs as well as illuminated manuscripts and icons; and the cultural Renaissance in 1453 brought magnificent palaces and mosques, calligraphic treasures, and book and miniature paintings inspired by Persian and Arabic forms.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #711820 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Customer Reviews

excellent photography
Great photos, but the text seems light. The book, Constantinople, will give you more history and insight, but lacks good photos. This book provides the photos, so buy them both!

Worth reading !
This interesting book presents the city's architectural history since its foundation. It includes very beautiful photographs.

However, the text concentrates perhaps unduly on strictly architectural aspects and becomes at times somewhat tedious.

The book mentions no construction built since the beginning of the 20th century. The city has experienced a tremendous growth since then. Is there no building less than 100 years old of any interest?

Also, why call the city Constantinople and not Istanbul, its official name for the past five and a half centuries?

Despite such shortcomings, I recommend this book heartily to anyone (like me) planning to visit Istanbul in the coming months.

Constantinople: Istanbul's Historical Heritage
Its Excellent! The pictures are really good too. It makes me want to go to Istanbul today.