1. A Primate City Throughout History
Istanbul
A Primate City
Throughout History

2. 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.

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

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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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.