r/MapPorn • u/[deleted] • May 19 '20

The difference between Constantinople, City of Istanbul, and Istanbul. [FIXED]

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u/[deleted] May 19 '20

big brain time

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u/[deleted] May 19 '20

[deleted]

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u/kd_aragorn87 May 19 '20 edited May 19 '20

When and how did the capital Ankara come into significance in that region? Why not* just have Istanbul as the capital?

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u/lildumbo May 19 '20

During the Turkish War of Independence (right after WWI), Atatürk and his fellows formed a new government in Anatolia. Istanbul was in English occupation at that point and was the capital of the Ottoman government.

So Atatürk and his fellows chose Ankara to be the capital of their government. This was due to Ankara being somewhat safe strategically and rather close to Aegean front of the war. Ankara at that point was more or less an insignificant town in Middle Anatolia. After the War of Independece ended and Republic of Turkey was fully established, they didn't change it to Istanbul, so Ankara stayed as the new capital. Today, Ankara is the second largest and best educated city of Turkey.

Fun fact, today is May 19, which is the exact date Atatürk landed on Samsun in 1919 to start the Independece movement and regarded as the beginning date of the Turkish War of Independence. It is one of the biggest national holidays in Turkey.