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-Turkish culture and masterpieces of -Turkish craftsmanship began to appear a m educational institutions and foundations of social aid were established.
On the other hand, well situated in Istanbul and spreading over
two continents, the Turks expanded 1 heir victory. First by the victory
of Selim X, "the Grim", over the Persians, the threat of danger from
the East was removed. In Africa Selira made Egypt a Turkish province,
and by the time of Solyman the Magnificent, or the "law-giver" as we
call him, Istanbul became the heart of & vast empire.
But these successes did not. produce mere pomp alone. To the glory
of the Empire a merited prosperity and industrial activity brought
honor and respect from every side. The heart of tho Empire, Istanbul,
made great contributions to tills development combining grande r with refinement of taste.
The city of Mahomet the Conqueror, of Solyraan the Magnificent, of Achmet I and of Aehmet III, was adorned by many beautiful mosques and
public fountains? by palaces both large and small. The great Turkish
architect Sinan constructed many buildings of unrivalled beauty. His
mosques, public baths, fountains, bridges and schools filled many
c o m e r s . It is not saying too much to claim that Sinan conquered
Istanbul afresh.
During the first three centuries following !he conquest, Istanbul was not only a capital of a powerful Empire and an important commercial and industrial center; it was also a site of learning and progress—
the meeting place of Eastern and Western cultures. Istanbul has produced
great writers, poets, artists a n ■ scholars, whose spiritual and moral
influences endured for centuries.
In the eighteenth century this drive of progress came to an end, and consequently the signs of decay in every sphere became evident. It is only due to the soundness of the organism that social structure resisted. But the eternal enemy, Russia, was constantly provoking difficult! s, and. at the beginning of the nineteenth century the internal life and acuinistrative and political system of the country
broke down. In the course of this century Istanbul witnessed many
reforms. Abdul l-iapid, in the midst of domestic difficulties, started
upon reforms, and had actually begur to put some into practice, when the Eastern question burst upon urkey, along with the proposal for the partition of the Empire.
In order to preserve the sovereignty over Istanbul and the in dependence of the Ottoman Empire a complete reorganisation of adminis trative and political structure was necessary. This great change was Intended to be brought about in 18?6, but the first Constitution lived only briefly and both Istanbul an. the whole of the Empire groaned
under a despotic rule until 1908. At last a group of young officers
headed a military movement, marched on Istanbul, ant in the same year the second constitution was proclaimed.
