Timeline of Istanbul

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Istanbul, Turkey.

Prior to 4th century

1000 BCE - Thracian tribes founded the settlements of Lygos and Semistra.
657 BCE – Byzantium founded by Greeks.
513 BCE – City taken by Persians under the rule of Darius the Great.
479 BCE – Spartans take control of Byzantium from the Persians following their victory at the Battle of Plataea.
411 BCE – Captured by Sparta.
408 BCE – Captured by Athens.
340 BCE – Besieged unsuccessfully by the forces of Philip II of Macedon.
317 BCE – Battle of Byzantium.
193 CE
* Besieged by Septimius Severus.
* Population: 15,000
196 – Captured by Septimius Severus. Walls demolished and city razed.
203
* Septimius Severus rebuilds the city.
* Hippodrome built.
* Mese main street built.
* Baths of Zeuxippus built.
* Walls rebuilt.
267 – Captured by the Herules.

4th–15th centuries

315 – Hagia Irene church built.
324
* 8 November: Constantine renames the city as Constantinoupolis and begins large-scale rebuilding.
* Serpent Column relocated to Byzantium.
* Hippodrome enlarged.
* Population: 20,000
328 – 4 November: Constantine dedicates Constantinople as capital.
330
* 11 May: Column of Constantine dedicated.
* Church of the Holy Apostles built.
* Chora Church built.
* Milion erected.
332
* 18 May: Free distribution of food to citizens. 80,000 rations a day from 117 distribution points.
359 – First urban prefect appointed.
360 – 15 February: Great Church of Holy Wisdom inaugurated.
362 – Kontoskalion built.
365 – City taken by forces of Procopius.
368
* Valens Aqueduct completed.
* Magnaura palace built.
* Population: 150,000
378 – Battle of Constantinople (378): Gothic attack on the city.
381 – First Council of Constantinople held in the Hagia Irene church.
382
* Drought.
* Second line added to the Valens Aqueduct.
390 – Obelisk of Theodosius installed.
393
* Forum of Theodosius rebuilt.
* Column of Theodosius erected.
* Arch of Theodosius completed.
* Population: 200,000
395 – Earthquake.
400 – City occupied by the rebel forces of Gainas for several months.
401 – Construction of the Column of Arcadius begins.
403
* Forum of Arcadius built.
* Column of Aelia Eudoxia erected.
* Earthquake.
407 – 1 April: Earthquake.
413 – Theodosian Walls built.
415 – 10 October: Church of Theodosius II inaugurated.
420 – Palace of Lausus built.
421 – Cistern of Aetius built.
425 – 27 February: Pandidakterion school founded by emperor Theodosius II.
428 – Theodosius Cistern built.
430 – Palace of Antiochos built.
433 – August: Fire destroys buildings along the Golden Horn.
437 – 25 September: Constantinian and Theodosian Walls damaged by an earthquake.
439 – Boukoleon Palace built.
440 – Saint Andrew in Krisei built.
447
* 26 January: Walls damaged by an earthquake.
* Walls rebuilt in 60 days by 16,000 workers under praetorian prefect Constantinus.
* 6 November: Constantinian and Theodosian Walls damaged by an earthquake.
450
* Column of Marcian erected.
* Church of St. Mary of Blachernae built.
459
* Construction of the Cistern of Aspar begins.
* Augustaion rebuilt.
462 – Monastery of Stoudios founded.
464 – September: Fire begins in the dockyards of the Golden Horn and damages eight of the city's fourteen regions.
473 – Imperial Library of Constantinople burned.
476 – Basilica Cistern rebuilt.
478 – 25 September: Walls damaged by an earthquake.
498 – Riot by the Greens damages the Hippodrome and surrounding area.
500
* Cistern of Mocius built.
* Palace of Blachernae built.
* Byzantine structure that would become the Balaban Aga Mosque built.
524 – Church of St. Polyeuctus built.
527 – Construction of the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus begins.
532
* January: Nika riots.
* 23 February: Construction of the Hagia Sophia church begins.
* Basilica Cistern rebuilt and enlarged.
533 – Earthquake.
536 – Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus finished.
537
* 26 December: Hagia Sophia completed.
* Population: 300,000–500,000
541 – Plague of Justinian kills 40% of the population.
543 – Column of Justinian erected.
545 – Wheat and wine shortage.
548 – Hagia Irene rebuilt.
550 – 28 June: Church of the Holy Apostles rebuilt.
553 – Second Council of Constantinople held.
554 – 16 August: 554 Anatolia earthquake.
555 – May–July: Bread shortage.
557 – 14 December: 557 Constantinople earthquake destroys large parts of the city.
558 – February–July: Re-occurrence of the plague of Justinian.
560 – Monastery of the Mother of God at the Spring built.
562 – November: Drought.
570
* Chrysotriklinos built by emperor Justin II.
* Orphanage of Saint Paul founded.
573–574 – Re-occurrence of the plague of Justinian.
575 – Kontoskalion harbor deepened and enlarged.
576 – Valens Aqueduct repaired and expanded.
582 – Famine.
586 – Re-occurrence of the plague of Justinian.
599 – Re-occurrence of the plague of Justinian.
626 – Siege of Constantinople (626) by Avars, Slavs and Sassanian Persians.
674–678 – Siege of Constantinople (674–78).
680 – Third Council of Constantinople held.
690 – Hall of Justinianos built by emperor Justinian II.
692 – Quinisext Council held.
698 – Outbreak of plague.
717–718 – Siege of Constantinople (717–18).
740 – October 26: 740 Constantinople earthquake.
747 – Outbreak of plague.
753 – Hagia Irene rebuilt.
758 – Drought.
766 – Valens Aqueduct restored.
769 – Church of the Virgin of the Pharos in existence.
813 – City besieged by Bulgarian forces.
821 – City besieged by forces of Thomas the Slav.
860 – Siege of Constantinople (860).
869 – A portion of the walls collapses in an earthquake.
870 – Fourth Council of Constantinople (Catholic Church) held.
880
* Fourth Council of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox) held.
* 1 May: Nea Ekklesia built.
907 – Siege of Constantinople (907).
908 – Lips Monastery built.
920 – Myrelaion built.
922 – Battle of Constantinople (922).
941 – Siege of Constantinople (941).
971 – Church of Christ of the Chalke built by emperor John I Tzimiskes.
1000 – Hagios Theodoros built.
1030 – Monastery of St. Mary Peribleptos built by emperor Romanos III Argyros.
1045 – Monastery of St. George of Mangana built.
1047 – September: Siege by rebels under Leo Tornikios.
1049 — Theotokos Euergetis Monastery founded.
1059 – Saint Thekla of the Palace of Blachernae built.
1060 – Pammakaristos Church built.
1081 – Chora Church rebuilt.
1087 – Monastery of Christ Pantepoptes built.
1100
* Paper in use.
* Saint John the Forerunner by-the-Dome built.
1110
* Kecharitomene Monastery built.
* Maiden's Tower built.
1136 – Monastery of the Pantocrator completed.
1147 – September: Battle of Constantinople (1147)
1181 – 2 May: Uprising of Maria Komnene against the rule of Alexios Komnenos suppressed.
1182 – April: Massacre of the Latins.
1197 – 25 July: Fire destroys the Latin Quarter and other buildings.
1200 – Theotokos Kyriotissa built.
1203 – Siege of Constantinople (1203) by the Fourth Crusade, in which Alexius IV was able to usurp the throne after Alexius III fled to Thrace.
1204 – April: Siege of Constantinople (1204) by the Fourth Crusade, in which the Byzantines were overwhelmed and the city thoroughly sacked.
1235 – Siege of Constantinople (1235).
1260 – Siege of Constantinople (1260).
1261
* 25 July: Captured by Nicaean forces under Alexios Strategopoulos.
* Population: 35,000
1268 – Kyra Martha nunnery founded.
1289 – June: Earthquake.
1304 – South Church of Lips Monastery built.
1307 – Monastery of Christ Philanthropos built.
1325 – Church of San Domenico built.
1332 – 17 January: Earthquake.
1347
* 14 October: Earthquake.
* 18 October: Earthquake.
1348
* Galata Tower built.
* Population: 80,000
1351 – 28 May: Fifth Council of Constantinople completed.
1376 – City besieged by forces of Andronikos IV Palaiologos.
1394
* Blockade of the city begun by Ottoman forces under Bayezid I.
* Anadoluhisarı fortress built.

15th–18th centuries

1402
* Ottoman blockade lifted.
* Earthquake.
1410 – June: Battle of Kosmidion.
1411 – Siege of Constantinople (1411).
1422 – Siege of Constantinople (1422).
1427 – Church of Saint Benoit built.
1437
* 4 September: Earthquake.
* 25 November: Earthquake.
1452 – Rumelihisarı fortress built.
1453
* 6 April-29 May: Final Siege of Constantinople; City besieged by Ottoman forces; Mehmed II in power.
* Capital of the Ottoman Empire relocated to Constantinople from Edirne.
* Hagia Sophia in use.
* Medrese predecessor of Istanbul University established.
* Population: 40,000–50,000
1454
* 18 April: Treaty of Constantinople (1454)
* Imperial Arsenal established.
* Phanar Greek Orthodox College founded.
* Ağa hamamı built.
1458
* Yedikule Fortress built.
* Eyüp Sultan Mosque built.
1460 – Grand Bazaar built.
1465 – Topkapı Palace construction begins.
1467 – Turkish State Mint established.
1470
* Fatih Mosque built.
* Sahn-ı Seman Medrese established.
1471 – Rum Mehmed Pasha Mosque built.
1472 – Tiled Kiosk built.
1478 – Galata Mosque in use.
1479 – 25 January: Treaty of Constantinople (1479)
1481 – Galatasaray High School established.
1488 – Complex of Sultan Bayezid II built.
1491 – Firuz Agha Mosque built in Fatih.
1497 – Gazi Atik Ali Pasha Mosque built.
1505 – İskender Pasha Mosque, Fatih built.
1506 – Bayezid II Mosque built.
1509 – 1509 Constantinople earthquake.
1512 – Vasat Atik Ali Pasha Mosque built.
1520 – Suleiman the Magnificent becomes Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
1521 – Ibrahim Pasha Palace in use.
1528 – Yavuz Selim Mosque built.
1531 – Piri Mehmed Pasha Mosque built.
1533 – 22 July: Treaty of Constantinople (1533).
1535 – French embassy established.
1539 – Haseki Sultan Complex built.
1541 – Tomb of Hayreddin Barbarossa built.
1542 – Defterdar Mosque built.
1548
* Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Üsküdar) built.
* Şehzade Mosque built.
1550
* Mosque with the Spiral Minaret built.
* Yavuz Sultan Selim Madras built.
1551 – Hadim Ibrahim Pasha Mosque built.
1554 – Coffee house in business.
1555 – November/December: Sinan Pasha Mosque (Istanbul) built.
1556 – Bath-house of Haseki Hurrem Sultan built.
1557
* Süleymaniye Mosque built.
* Süleymaniye Hamam bath built.
1559 – Caferağa Medresseh built.
1560 – İskender Pasha Mosque, Kanlıca built.
1563 – Rüstem Pasha Mosque built.
1567 – Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Büyükçekmece) built.
1570 – Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Edirnekapı) built.
1571 – Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Kadırga) built.
1572 – Kara Ahmed Pasha Mosque built.
1573 – Piyale Pasha Mosque built.
1577 – Observatory of Taqi al-Din built.
1578 – Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Azapkapı) built.
1580 – Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex built.
1581 – Şemsi Pasha Mosque built.
1583 – 26 March: First British ambassador to Constantinople arrives.
1584
* Çemberlitaş Hamamı built.
* Molla Çelebi Mosque built.
* Church of St. Mary Draperis, Istanbul established.
1586
* Atik Valide Mosque built.
* Mesih Mehmed Pasha Mosque built.
1590
* 21 March: Treaty of Constantinople (1590).
* Zal Mahmud Pasha Mosque built.
1604 – Church of SS Peter and Paul, Istanbul built.
1612 – 20 November: Treaty of Nasuh Pasha.
1613 – Aynalıkavak Palace built.
1615 – Cossack raid on Istanbul (1615)
1616 – Sultan Ahmed Mosque built.
1620 – Cossack raid on Istanbul (1620)
1624 – Cossack raids on Istanbul (1624)
1648 – Atmeydanı incident.
1656 – 26 February: Çınar incident.
1660
* 24–26 July: Great Fire of 1660.
* New Bazaar built.
1665 – Valide Sultan Mosque built.
1678 – Church of St. Mary Draperis rebuilt.
1700 – 13 July: Treaty of Constantinople (1700).
1710 – Yeni Valide Mosque built.
1728 – Fountain of Ahmed III built.
1729 – Fountain of Ahmed III (Üsküdar) built.
1730 – 20 September: Patrona Halil rebellion.
1732 – Tophane Fountain built.
1736 – 24 September: Treaty of Constantinople (1736).
1742 – 15 April: Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople established.
1746 – Kalenderhane Mosque consecrated.
1753 – Yedikule Hospital founded.
1755 – Nuruosmaniye Mosque built.
1758 – Şemsipaşa Primary School established.
1763 – Laleli Mosque built.
1766 – Earthquake.
1769 – Zeynep Sultan Mosque built.
1771 – Fatih Mosque rebuilt.
1773 – Naval Engineering at Golden Horn Naval Shipyard college founded.
1774 – Rami Barracks built.
1781 – Emirgan Mosque built.
1793 – Balıklı Greek Hospital rebuilt.
1795
* Imperial School of Military Engineering established.
* Mühendishane-i Berri Hümayun printing house established.

19th century

1800 – Eyüp Sultan Mosque rebuilt.
1801 – Big Selimiye Mosque built.
1806 – Taksim Military Barracks built.
1807 – 29 May: Coup of 1807.
1808 – 28 July: Coup of 1808.
1813 – Hidayet Mosque built.
1814 – Sultan Mahmut Fountain built.
1821 – Constantinople massacre of 1821.
1825 – Pangaltı Mkhitaryan School established.
1826
* 15 June: Auspicious Incident.
* Nusretiye Mosque built.
1828
* 6 February: Selimiye Barracks built.
* Beyazıt Tower built.
1831 – October: Takvim-i Vekayi newspaper established.
1832
* February: Treaty of Constantinople (1832).
* Beylerbeyi Palace Tunnel built.
* Davutpaşa Barracks built.
1833 – 8 July: Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi.
1834
* Military Academy established.
* 31 May: Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital opened.
1836 – 3 September: Hayratiye Bridge built.
1837 – Surp Agop Hospital opened.
1843 – Church of SS Peter and Paul rebuilt.
1844 – Naum Theatre opened.
1845
* Galata Bridge built.
* 21 September: Mekteb-i Fünun-ı İdadiye military high school established.
1846
* Cathedral of the Holy Spirit built.
* 1 July: Armenian Evangelical Church established.
* 23 July: House of Multiple Sciences established.
1848
* Küçük Mecidiye Mosque built.
* Nusretiye Clock Tower built.
* Ottoman Military College established.
1849 – 9 October: Bulgarian St. Stephen Church inaugurated.
1850
* 21 March: Istanbul Girls High School inaugurated.
* 22 March: Cağaloğlu Anadolu Lisesi established.
1851
* Hırka-i Şerif Mosque built.
* Emirgan Pier opened.
1852
* Taşkışla houses built.
* Taksim German Hospital founded.
1853 – Üsküdar Ferry Terminal opened.
1854 – Teşvikiye Mosque built.
1855
* Ihlamur Palace built.
* Dolmabahçe Mosque built.
1856
* 27 November: Lycée Notre Dame de Sion Istanbul established.
* Dolmabahçe Palace built in Beşiktaş.
* Ortaköy Mosque built.
* Ottoman Bank founded.
* Fenerbahçe Lighthouse built.
1857
* Küçüksu Palace built.
* Ahırkapı Feneri lighthouse built.
1859
* 12 February: Mekteb-i Mülkiye-i Şahane college established.
* Şişli Greek Orthodox Cemetery founded.
1861
* 14 April: Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople established.
* Adile Sultan Palace built.
* Al-Jawâ'ib begins publication.
* Liceo Italiano di Istanbul founded.
1862 – Tekel tobacco company founded.
1863
* 16 September: Robert College opened.
* First painting exhibition sponsored by Sultan Abdülaziz.
1865
* Beylerbeyi Palace built.
* Altunizade Mosque built.
1866 – Gedikpaşa Tiyatrosu theatre established.
1867 – Çırağan Palace built.
1868
* 1 April: Court of Cassation established.
* 1 May: Deutsche Schule Istanbul founded.
* Kandilli Observatory established.
* Galatasaray Museum established.
1870
* June 5: Fire in Pera.
* 24 November: Diyojen magazine founded.
* Malta Kiosk built.
1871
* Feriye Palace built.
* American College for Girls established in Arnavutköy.
1872
* Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque built.
* Haydarpaşa railway station opened.
* Pertevniyal High School founded.
* El Tiempo Ladino-language newspaper founded.
* 22 July:
** Bakırköy railway station opened.
** Küçükçekmece railway station opened.
* 27 July: Sirkeci railway station opened.
* 22 September:
** Bostancı railway station opened.
** Erenköy railway station opened.
** Feneryolu railway station opened.
** Kartal railway station opened.
** Küçükyalı railway station opened.
1873
* 27 April: Fenerbahçe railway station opened.
* Darüşşafaka High School founded.
1874 – Population: 827,750
1875
* 17 January:
** Beyoğlu (Tünel) railway station opened.
** Karaköy (Tünel) railway station opened.
* Esma Sultan Mansion built.
1876
* 3 January: Akhtar Persian-language magazine established.
* Muharrir magazine established.
* Üsküdar American Academy founded.
* Göztepe railway station built.
1877 – 18 December: Central Committee for Defending Albanian Rights formed.
1878
* 26 June: Tercüman-ı Hakikat newspaper first published.
* Istanbul Bar Association established.
1879
* 12 October: Society for the Publication of Albanian Writings formed.
1880
* 14 September: Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church, Istanbul built.
* Yıldız Palace built.
1882
* Palazzo Corpi built.
* Ottoman Public Debt Administration building constructed.
* School of Fine Arts established.
* Numune-i Terakki school founded.
* 14 January: Istanbul Chamber of Commerce established.
1883
* School of Economics established.
* Orient Express begins operating.
* Drita Albanian magazine begins publishing.
1886
* 1 September: Getronagan Armenian High School established.
* Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque built.
1887
* Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque built.
* Hidayet Mosque rebuilt.
1890
* Yıldız Clock Tower built.
* Kum Kapu demonstration.
* Tekel Birası brewery established.
1891 – 13 June: Imperial Museum founded.
1892
* Pera Palace Hotel built.
* Mekteb-i Aşiret-i Humayun school established.
1893 – Zografeion Lyceum inaugurated.
1894
* 10 July: an earthquake in the Gulf of İzmit kills about 1,349 people.
* Pando's Creamery in business.
1895
* Dolmabahçe Clock Tower built.
* Russian Archaeological Institute of Constantinople established.
* Lycée Sainte-Euphémie established.
1896
* 1 January: Kurtuluş S.K. founded.
* 26 August: Occupation of the Ottoman Bank.
1897
* Treaty of Constantinople (1897).
* Istanbul Naval Museum established.
* Tokatlıyan Hotels built.
1899 – 20 April: Port of Haydarpaşa opened.

20th century

1900 – Port of Istanbul opened.
1901
* 27 January: German Fountain inaugurated.
* Ulus Sephardi Jewish Cemetery established.
1903
* 4 March: Beşiktaş J.K. founded.
* Moda F.C. founded.
1904
* Istanbul Football League established.
* Elpis F.C. founded.
* HMS Imogene F.C. founded.
1905
* 21 July: Yıldız assassination attempt.
* 30 October: Galatasaray S.K. founded.
1907
* 3 May: Fenerbahçe S.K. (football) founded.
* Khedive Palace built.
* Etfal Hospital Clock Tower built.
1908
* Istanbul declared a province with nine constituent districts.
* Ottoman National Olympic Society founded.
* Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium inaugurated.
* Kabataş Erkek Lisesi established.
* Karagöz magazine established.
* Osmanischer Lloyd established.
* Demet magazine established.
* Jamanak Armenian-language newspaper established.
* El Gugeton Ladino-language newspaper established.
* Vefa S.K. founded.
* Beykoz S.K.D. founded.
* Üsküdar Anadolu S.K. founded.
* Strugglers F.C. founded.
1909
* 31 March Incident
* National Bank of Turkey established.
* Scouting and Guiding Federation of Turkey predecessor formed.
* Al-Muntada al-Adabi formed.
* Shehbal magazine founded.
* Altınordu İdman Yurdu S.K. founded.
1910
* Mısır Apartment built.
* Suadiye railway station opened.
* Hamevasser newspaper established.
* Apikoğlu company founded.
* 22 April: Hikmet magazine established.
1911
* Yıldız Technical University established.
* Istanbul International Community School established.
* Erenköy Girls High School established.
* Marmnamarz sports magazine begins publishing.
* Küçükçekmece S.K. founded.
* Beylerbeyi S.K. founded.
* Rumblers F.C. founded.
* 11 June: Greek Byzantine Catholic Church established.
* 23 July: Monument of Liberty, Istanbul completed.
1912
* İnterbank moves to Constantinople.
* Church of St. Anthony of Padua, Istanbul built.
* Gülhane Park opens.
* Orfeon Records established.
* Istanbul Friday League established.
* Hilal S.K. founded.
* Telefoncular F.C. founded.
* 25 March: Turkish Hearths founded.
1913
* 23 January: 1913 Ottoman coup d'état.
* 29 September: Treaty of Constantinople
* Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum opens.
* Bebek Mosque built.
* Veliefendi Race Course opened.
* Anadolu Hisarı İdman Yurdu S.K. founded.
1914
* Population: 1,125,000
* 25 January: Electric tram line begins operating on the European side.
* 11 February: Silahtarağa Power Station opened.
* 28 June: Darülbedayi founded.
* Metrohan Building built.
* Darülbedayi theatre founded.
* Istanbul Championship League established.
* Beyoğlu S.K. established.
1915
* 24 April: Deportation of Armenian intellectuals on 24 April 1915.
* 15 June: The 20 Hunchakian gallows hanging occurs in Beyazıt Square.
* Göztepe railway station rebuilt.
1916
* Aviation Martyrs' Monument completed.
* Kandilli Anatolian High School for Girls established.
1917 – Darülelhan conservatory established.
1918
* 13 November: Occupation of Constantinople by Allied forces begins, per Armistice of Mudros.
* November: Karakol society founded against the occupation of Constantinople.
1919
* Sultanahmet demonstrations.
* Sultanahmet Jail built.
* Eyüpspor founded.
1920 – 5 March: Green Crescent established.
1921
* 15 January: Kasımpaşa S.K. founded.
* Taksim Stadium established.
* Istanbul Men's Volleyball League established.
1922 – Tayyare Apartments built.
1923
* 4 October: Allied occupation ends and the newly-formed Republic of Turkey takes control.
* 13 October: Turkish capital relocated from Istanbul to Ankara.
* Vatan newspaper established.
* Istanbul Maltepespor founded.
1924
* 7 May: Cumhuriyet newspaper established.
* 15 October: Bakırköy Psychiatric Hospital founded.
* Airport opened in Yeşilköy.
* Emek (movie theater) opened.
1925 – 12 July: Apoyevmatini Greek-language newspaper founded.
1926
* 4 January: İstanbulspor founded.
* Istanbul 4th Vakıf Han built.
* Fatih Karagümrük S.K. founded.
1927
* 6 March: Süreyya Opera House opened.
* Istanbul Basketball League established.
* Feriköy S.K. founded.
1928
* Electric tram line begins operating on the Asian side.
* Paşakapısı Prison established.
1929 – Istanbul Medical Chamber founded.
1930
* City renamed "Istanbul".
* Istanbul Shield established.
1931 – Italian Synagogue established.
1932 – Fil Bridge built.
1933
* 1 August: Istanbul University established.
* October: Güneş S.K. founded.
* Istanbul Zoology Museum established.
1934 – 26 September: Haydarpaşa High School established.
1936 –
* Istanbul University Observatory established.
* Beşiktaş Atatürk Anadolu Lisesi high school founded.
1938 – 10 November: Death of Atatürk.
1940
* 31 August: Marmara (newspaper) Armenian-language newspaper begins publishing.
* Berlin–Baghdad railway begins operating.
* Atatürk Bridge built.
* Sarıyer S.K. founded.
* Taksim S.K. founded.
* Population: 789,346.
1942 –
* VitrA (sanitaryware) company established.
* Istanbul Football Cup established.
1943 – Taksim Gezi Park built.
1944
* 22 February: Ülker company established.
* Faculty of Arts and Sciences Building, Istanbul University built.
* Yıldız Holding established.
1945
* Population: 860,558.
* Ali Sami Yen Stadium built.
* Beyti (Istanbul) restaurant founded.
* Aşiyan Museum established.
* Yıldırım Bosna S.K. founded.
1946
* Cezmi Or Memorial established.
* Modaspor (basketball) founded.
1947
* 19 May: İnönü Stadium opens in Beşiktaş.
* 9 August: Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre opened.
* 29 October: Şalom begins publishing.
1948
* 1 May: Hürriyet newspaper begins publishing.
* Bütün Dünya periodical begins publishing.
1949
* 3 June: Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center opened.
* 18 August: Kartal S.K. founded.
* Şişli Mosque built.
* İstanbul newspaper begins publishing.
* Bakırköyspor founded.
1950
* Population: 1,000,022.
* 3 May: Milliyet begins publishing.
* Hünkar (restaurant) established.
* Pendikspor founded.
* Paşabahçe S.K. founded.
* Alibeyköy S.K. founded.
1951
* 25 March: Neve Shalom Synagogue inaugurated.
* Ismet Baba Fish Restaurant established.
1952
* 9 March: ITU TV broadcast. First Turkish television broadcast.
* Türk Ticaret Bankası relocated to Istanbul.
1953
* 1 March: ITU School of Mines established.
* Tiled Kiosk opens as a museum.
* Zeytinburnuspor founded.
1954
* Arçelik company established.
* Alarko Holding company established.
* Migros Türk company established.
* İçmeler railway station opened.
* Akbank moves to Istanbul.
* Tuzlaspor founded.
1955
* 10 June: Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus opened.
* 6–7 September: Istanbul pogrom.
* 4 December:
** Cankurtaran railway station opened.
** Florya railway station opened.
** Kazlıçeşme railway station opened.
** Yenimahalle railway station opened.
** Zeytinburnu railway station opened.
* Beko company founded.
* Kadıköy Anadolu Lisesi founded.
* Adam Mickiewicz Museum, Istanbul founded.
* Küçükçekmece railway station rebuilt.
* Istanbul Women's Volleyball League established.
1956
* Divan Istanbul built.
* Demirören Group founded.
* Tekfen Construction and Installation founded.
* Tabanlıoğlu Architects founded.
* Yeşilyurt Women's Volleyball Team founded.
1957
* Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş. company founded.
* Pudding Shop restaurant opened.
1958
* Birleşik Fon Bankası founded.
* Banks Association of Turkey founded.
* Küçük Emek cinema opens.
1959
* Beşiktaş Anadolu Lisesi founded.
* Sait Faik Abasıyanık Museum opened.
* Karaköy Pier opened.
* Güzelyalı railway station opened.
* Bayrampaşaspor founded.
1960
* Erler Film company founded.
* Ekonomist magazine founded.
1961
* March: Hürriyet Daily News founded.
* Yenibosna S.K. founded.
1962
* E.C.A. Elginkan Anadolu Lisesi founded.
* Telsiz ve Radyo Amatörleri Cemiyeti founded.
1963 – Gaziosmanpaşaspor founded.
1964
* Askam (trucks) company founded.
* Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage opens.
1965
* Population: 2,293,823.
* Yapı Merkezi company founded.
1966 – İdealtepe railway station opened.
1967
* 15 June: Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey holds first meeting.
* Kaynarca railway station opened.
* Moğollar established.
1968
* Yedikule Anadolu Lisesi founded.
* Küçükköyspor founded.
1969
* 17 January: Vehbi Koç Foundation established.
* 16 February: Bloody Sunday (1969).
* 12 April: Atatürk Cultural Center dedicated.
* Efes Beverage Group established.
1970
* Eyüboğlu High School founded.
* 22 April: Türkiye newspaper begins publishing.
1971
* 2 November: Beyoğlu station re-opened after reconstruction.
* Turkish Industry and Business Association established.
* Turkish Society for Electron Microscopy established.
1972 – Desa company established.
1973
* 12 January: Millî Gazete begins publishing.
* 19 April: Dostluk S.K. founded.
* Bosphorus Bridge built.
* Ömerli Dam built.
* 50th Anniversary of the Republic Sculptures erected.
* Istanbul International Music Festival begins.
* Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts established.
1974
* 10 September: Haliç Bridge opened.
* Derimod company founded.
1975
* 30 January: Turkish Airlines Flight 345 crash.
* Çukurova (construction firm) established.
* Istanbul Technical University Turkish Music State Conservatory founded.
1976
* Muhammad Maarifi Mosque built.
* Çamlıca TRT Television Tower built.
* Polin Waterparks company founded.
1977
* 1 May: Taksim Square massacre.
1978 – December: Kadınca women's magazine begins publishing.
1979 – Istanbul Marathon begins.
1980
* 14 October: Sadberk Hanım Museum opened.
* Cengiz Holding established.
* Bogazici University Sports Fest founded.
1981
* 2 March: Dünya founded.
* Koçbank founded.
* Can Yayınları publishing company founded.
* Metris Prison established.
1982
* 19 February: Güneş founded.
* International Istanbul Film Festival begins.
* Istanbul Book Fair inaugurated.
* Atatürk High School of Science, Istanbul established.
* World Trade Center Istanbul established.
* Timas Publishing Group established.
* İletişim Yayınları publishing company established.
* Kaynak Yayınları publishing company established.
* Malta Kiosk restored and re-opened.
* Ezginin Günlüğü band formed.
1983
* ITU Mustafa Inan Library opened.
* Enka SK founded.
* İstanbul Güngörenspor founded.
1984
* March: Hotel Yeşil Ev established.
* March 23: Municipality of Greater Istanbul established.
* Population: 2,951,000.
1986 – 6 September: Neve Shalom Synagogue massacre. Gunmen kill 22 Jews in an attack orchestrated by Palestinian militant Abu Nidal.
1987
* The districts of Büyükçekmece, Kağıthane, Küçükçekmece, Pendik and Ümraniye are created.
* 1 October: Galleria Ataköy opened.
1988
* 9 May: TGC Press Media Museum established.
* 3 July: Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge built.
* Koç School opened.
1989
* 3 September: Istanbul Metro begins operating.
* Kadıköy Haldun Taner Stage in use.
1990
* İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. established.
* The district of Bayrampaşa is created.
1991 – Swissôtel The Bosphorus opened.
1992
* 1 March: Neve Shalom Synagogue bomb attack. No casualties or damage.
* The districts of Avcılar, Bağcılar, Bahçelievler, Güngören, Maltepe, Sultanbeyli, and Tuzla are created.
* 13 June: T1 (Istanbul Tram) line opened.
* Istanbul Hezarfen Airfield opened.
1993
* Sabancı Center built.
* International Defence Industry Fair established.
* Akbank Sanat opened.
* Koç University opened.
* 6–7 May: 2nd ECO Summit held.
* 18 December: Akmerkez opened.
* The district of Esenler is created.
1994
* 31 October: Istanbul Bilgi University established.
* December: Galata Bridge rebuilt.
* Esenler Coach Terminal built.
* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan becomes mayor of greater Istanbul.
* Population: 7,615,500 in city.
1995
* 12–15 March: Gazi Quarter riots.
* The district of Yalova is separated from Istanbul Province and Yalova Province is created.
1996
* United Nations Conference on Human Settlements held.
* Üsküdar Belediyespor founded.
1998 – Ahmet Cömert Sport Hall built.
1999
* 13–14 March: 1999 Istanbul bombings.
* 26 July – 1 August: 1999 European Aquatics Championships held.
* The 7.6 İzmit earthquake shakes northwestern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX, leaving 17,118–17,127 dead and 43,953–50,000 injured in the region.
* Changa (restaurant) established.

21st century

2000
* Population: 10,018,735.
* Tekstilkent Plaza built.
* 6 May: Istanbul Postal Museum established.
* 26 August: Isbank Tower 1 built.
* 16 September: M2 (Istanbul Metro) opened.
2001
* Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport opened.
* 21 September: Tepe Nautilus mall opened.
2002
* Tekfen Tower built.
* Endem TV Tower built.
* Sakıp Sabancı Museum opened.
2003
* Istanbul Pride begins.
* 2 May: Miniatürk opened.
* November: 2003 Istanbul bombings.
* Miniatürk park opens.
2004
* City boundaries become coterminous with those of Istanbul Province.
* Kadir Topbaş becomes mayor of Greater Istanbul.
* March 9, 2004 attack on Istanbul restaurant.
* 12 and 15 May: Eurovision Song Contest 2004 held.
* 28–29 June: City hosts 2004 Istanbul summit.
* 11 December: İstanbul Modern museum of art opened.
2005 – April: Sabancı Performing Arts Center opens in Tuzla.
2006 – 6 June: Kanyon Shopping Mall opened.
2007
* 19 January: Assassination of Hrant Dink.
* 29 April: Republic Protest.
* 12 September: T4 (Istanbul Tram) opened.
* Şişli Plaza built.
* Süreyya Opera House in Kadıköy.
2008
* The districts of Arnavutköy, Ataşehir, Başakşehir, Beylikdüzü, Çekmeköy, Esenyurt, Sancaktepe, and Sultangazi are created. The district Eminönü is abolished and merged into Fatih.
* 1 February: Istanbul fireworks explosion in Davutpaşa.
* 9 July: 2008 United States consulate in Istanbul attack.
* 21 July: 70 Million Steps Against Coups.
* 27 July: 2008 Istanbul bombings.
* Labour strike in Tuzla.
2009
* 7 May: Şakirin Mosque opened.
* 17 October: Istanbul Congress Center opened
* City districts increased from 32 to 39.
* Istanbul Congress Center built.
* Depo art space founded.
2010
* 14 January: Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage rebuilt.
* 28 August – 12 September: 2010 FIBA World Championship held.
* 31 October: 2010 Istanbul bombing.
* Baklahorani revived.
2011
* 4 March: Istanbul Sapphire opened.
* 18 March: Istanbul Shopping Fest inaugurated.
* July: Istanbul Justice Palace built.
* 6 October: Ora Arena opened.
2012
* 26 February 2012 Istanbul rally to commemorate the Khojaly massacre held.
* 17 August: M4 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
* Sancaklar Mosque built.
* MEF University opened.
* Forensic Science Institute of Turkey opened.
* Museum of Innocence opens.
* Population: 13,854,740.
2013
* 28 May: Gezi Park protests begin in Taksim Square.
* 14 June: M3 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
* 10 October: Zorlu Center opened.
* 29 October:
** Marmaray Tunnel phase of the Marmaray project opened for public use.
** Ayrılık Çeşmesi railway station opened.
2014
* 15 February: Golden Horn Metro Bridge opened.
* 1 September: Raffles Istanbul hotel opened.
* 29 November: Pope Francis visit to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew I and Muslim leaders.
* Sancaklar Mosque built in Büyükçekmece.
* Istanbul Half Marathon established.
2015
* 6 January: 2015 Istanbul suicide bombing.
* 17 March: 2015 SAHA, Defence, Aviation and Space Clustering Association established.
* 19 April: M6 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
* 26 May: Mehmet Çakır Cultural and Sports Center opened.
* 1 December: 2015 Istanbul metro bombing.
* 23 December: 2015 Sabiha Gökçen Airport bombing.
2016
* 12 January: January 2016 Istanbul bombing.
* 19 March: March 2016 Istanbul bombing.
* 11 April: Vodafone Park opened.
* 7 June: June 2016 Istanbul bombing.
* 28 June: Istanbul Atatürk Airport attack.
* 15–16 July: 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt.
* 20 August: Beykoz University established.
* 23 August: Özgürlükçü Demokrasi launched.
* 26 August: Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge opened.
* 6 October: October 2016 Istanbul bombing.
* 10 December: December 2016 Istanbul bombings.
* 22 December: Eurasia Tunnel opened.
2017
* 1 January: 2017 Istanbul nightclub shooting.
* 9 July: 2017 March for Justice.
* 29 October: F3 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
* 15 December: M5 (Istanbul Metro) line opened.
* Population: 15,029,231.
2018
* Saha Expo first held.
* 20–23 September: Teknofest Istanbul held.
* 29 October: Istanbul Airport opened.
*Prince MBS of Saudi Arabia sends a group of government agents to murder prominent critic, Jamal Khashoggi. His death is just a few days before his sixtieth birthday.
2019
* Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu won the repeat race for Istanbul's mayor.
2022
* 13 November: an explosion on İstiklal Avenue in the Beyoğlu district left at least six people dead and 81 injured.
2024
* 2024 Istanbul Palace of Justice attack: an armed attack on a police station took place near the Istanbul Justice Palace.
* Ekrem İmamoğlu was reelected as Istanbul Mayor for a second term in 2024.
2025
* 2025 Turkish protests: hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered in the streets of Istanbul.

Published in 18th–19th centuries

Published in 20th century

Published in 21st century

Europe's Muslim Capital by Philip Mansel in the June 2003 issue of History Today