Cultural Significance of a Famous City - Case Study Example

Cultural Significance of a Famous City. Name Institutional Affiliation Date Cultural Significance of a Famous City The cultural significance of a place or object may be termed as the places’ worth in terms of the beauty; historical purpose, social, scientific or the Places of cultural significance around the world holding the important aspect of preservation of culture acting as learning and developing centers for the same. Culture is an important aspect, although dynamic according to history. Culture varies with place and people in every locality. The significance of culturally important city lies in its ability to forge a way of life for its inhabitants. Cultural cities hold the evidence to the existence of a traditional or ancient civilizations which are still in existence, practice or extinct. The essay will focus on a particular city and its’ cultural significance showing its importance in all aspects such as economic, social and the historical contribution of the city. Culture in the city is by the presence of sites such as ancient castles or palaces and architectural ruins. Human settlements also act as representatives of culture evident when such areas have failed to change because of technology. Cultural significant places are in all continents around the globe. Good examples are the old town settlements of towns in the East African towns of Lamu and Mombasa old town. In West Africa, Timbuktu holds in Mali, a culturally important place. In India, such cultural sites are found in the ancient city of Varanasi. Majority of towns and cities in Asian countries like china and Japan also have cultural significance. In the Americas, the Mexican city of Cancun holds cultural significance associated with the ancient Mayans. Serageldin, Shluger & Martin-Brown (2001). The city chosen for this case study is the city of Istanbul. Istanbul is a good choice because it is famous, lying in two continents; Europe and Asia and has significant cultural importance and is a melting pot for different cultures. Istanbul, the culture capital city of and the largest city of Turkey, is divided by two continents, Europe and Asia. Istanbul is Located on the shores of the Marmara sea and Black sea that form the Bosporus, it is the second largest city in the Middle East occupying an area of about 5,350 square kilometers. The Bosporus, one of the busiest straits in the world, offers the city of Istanbul an access to international maritime routes hence making it a busy port city. The Bosporus divides Istanbul into its Asian and European sides while also acting as a boundary for the two continents. Historically, the city has been an important focal point for administration of power, the economic hub and a melting pot for different cultures. Formerly known as Byzantium, Istanbul was established around 650 BC by the Roman Empire on its current location due to its strategic placement; it became a significant city holding an important part in the history. Emperor Constantine made Byzantium his capital and re-established it as Constantinople due to its strategic location. Constantinople served as the capital of four different empires starting with the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, the Latin and Ottoman Empire. The roman and byzantine eras coincided with the reign of the powerful and influential catholic popes making Constantinople, a Christian city and an instrumental base in the propagation of Christianity. The Ottoman Empire however conquered Constantinople and introduced Islam renaming it Istanbul. Why is the city important? A location, city, place or object can be termed as important and culturally significant if it holds its place I history as a zone of exchange for human values, ways of life. Cultural significance can also be attributed to the presence of architectural developments from ancient times that have shaped how past, present and future developments relate to each other in terms of aesthetics and design. (Explain how Istanbul is) Istanbul adheres to the aforementioned condition since it has always been a zone for the exchange of human values and way of life hence creating its own unique culture. Serageldin et al. (2001) also note that a city can hold cultural significance. The presence of settlements such as ancient traditional housing, palaces, castles and administrative buildings that were built in different eras can act as evidence. The landscape of the area helps to create tourist attraction sites or form a heritage site due to the history associated with the buildings. Bozdogan (2001) notes of the ottoman style palaces, buildings and reference to Istanbul by architects to study architecture. Importance is given to the knowledge of architectural history and design that is in the ancient buildings that survived the Young Turk revolution. Architectural history up to date still gives reference to the combination of design works found in the Istanbul landscape and how this shaped a part of the practice. Palaces, citadels, donned the Istanbul landscape before most of them were demolished by the Turk revolution to give room for expansion of the city during the nationalism era. Some of the establishments remained such as the Topkapi palace, the Dolmabahçe palace, the Beylerbeyi and Çırağan palaces. Other buildings that don the Istanbul landscape and hold an important part of history is the Hagia Sofia, currently serving as a museum. The Hagia Sofia was built by emperor Justinian in the year 537 as a church serving a seat for the eastern orthodox from the year 537 to around 1450. A shift occurred though from Orthodox to Roman Catholic in the year 1204 and around 1260 but later changed into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire period and finally a museum. The importance of the building; it holds accounts of historical events that came to shape the modern day city. A place may also hold cultural significance if it was and still were directly associated with past or current events and way of life and how it helps change the culture of its inhabitants. Bozdogan (2001) The city became famous due to its glorious past; as a place of refuge, a melting pot of culture and a zone for the advancement of culture due to the combination of various cultures that produced a unique culture in Istanbul itself. Policies were formulated to encourage the immigration of people of different cultures from various places in the empire to Istanbul. The city, therefore, became famous due to the refuge it offered to people who had been oppressed in other lands such as the Jews who faced Christian oppression. This historical occurrence morphed Istanbul into a city that helps transmit global culture. Istanbul also became famous because it served as an empirical capital for the four different empires. Each of the empires brought religion, from Christianity to Islam into Istanbul, culture, art, cuisine and technology. Due to its leader's tolerance with foreigners, Istanbul became a multicultural city and finally a transmitter of culture to places recipient of goods from the city. The city also became famous due to its ornate architectural designs found in palaces built during the Ottoman Empire, its Bosporus strait and the fact that it is the only city lying on two continents, Europe and Asia. Istanbul's major importance however is as a world cultural city due to creativity, multiculturalism and transmission of culture to areas close to it. The importance was attributed to Istanbul's history of cultural heritage that dates back to 1000 years ago. Event's organizers prefer Turkey particularly Istanbul that has been a host to a myriad of events ranging from musical concerts, sports competition, fashion exhibitions and shows and conferences. The European Union selected Istanbul as the Ecoc; European Capital of Culture due to the number of various cultures found in the city due to the presence of people from different places in the world. Istanbul's composition of various people ranging from Romans, Kurds, Jews, Armenians and Greeks since its inception to the present times made it a multicultural city. The selection as the Ecoc gave the city a better platform to develop its culture and transform the city into a cultural transmitting hub. As world cultural hub, Istanbul gained importance in transmission of western culture to countries formerly in the soviet bloc such as Tajikistan, Armenia, and Ukraine. As a result of its reference as a cultural city, Istanbul became an important economic hub, a focal point for the entry of western goods and services into Asia and eastern countries. Emergence of western service providers such as McDonalds, formula one motorsport and watersports. Modernization in Turkey particularly Istanbul meant the inclusion of modern appliances in the city hence development of media. Istanbul through various media channels can transmit and influence cultures from around the world to its neighboring countries formerly allied to the soviet bloc. The importance of the city as a media gateway to these former soviet countries means that western culture; European culture can be adopted, therefore, creating an easy path for the introduction of goods and services in these areas either directly or indirectly. Istanbul's nomination as Ecoc was also due to its aesthetic appeal ranging from ancient buildings with heritage from various empires that once held the city. The attraction that comes with an aesthetic appeal makes Istanbul, an important tourist attraction site in the country. Istanbul is an important focal point for tourism in the globe owed to its glorious past and cultural heritage. The presence of mixed oriental and western culture makes the city a tourist attraction site. Architecture from a different period in history tells a story of conflict and co-existence and the various religion journeys that occurred; as a result, of knowledge brought into the city due to immigration of craftsmen from other areas of the continent during the Roman Empire and Ottoman Empire era. Presence of western and oriental cultures makes the city easy and an important attraction to millions of visitors due to the presence of shopping malls, sites and museums. The revenue collected from tourist visas and fees makes this city an important asset to the Turkish government. UNESCO also named some sites in Istanbul as world heritage sites due to the importance they hold on matters; human culture, religion and social development. Harrison & Hitchcock (2005) Istanbul's importance is from its geographical positions. Located in two continents, the city has given Turkey an advantage of joining global affairs in both continents through organizations such as the UN, European Union and other continental bodies in Asia. The advantage gained by the transformation of Istanbul into a culture transmitting and influential hub also made it an economic hub attracting foreign investments. Turkish influence also made it easier for products and goods from the west and Turkey, particularly Istanbul to penetrate foreign markets, making the city important to its inhabitants, European investors and other western interests. How it can contribute to an understanding of the world’s history. Understanding of world history requires clear record of events with respect to the present way of life. Understanding history helps in understanding human interactions from the past in terms of culture, conflict, religion and progression. To understanding history, the city needs to have evidence in form museums, ruins or a continuous cultural heritage. Presence of architectural works from different eras in the past also aid in the understanding of world history. Istanbul can and has contributed to how we can understand world history. World history is on human interaction and conflict, culture and development that has had an effect on the present times. Istanbul can contribute to an understanding of world history in conflict and human co-existence. Presence of ruins, museums show the past conflict such as the Byzantine ruins found inside the Topkapi palace. The ruins show how power shifted from one dynasty to another. Understanding of past human co-existence is made easier through the presence of various ethnic groups that historically migrated to the city. Understanding events in history is by presence of bazaars such as the Kapalicarsi, which is still in use and still depicts how ancient trade occurred in the city. The bazaar also plays an important role in showing how human interacted historically since the city lies on the great silk route. Presence of citadels shows how conflict occurred in the past helping an individual to understand how conflicts were dealt with and the effects that came to shape the present times. The palaces, mosques and museums housed by ancient buildings and architectural masterpieces, show how craft and technology was adopted by various ethnic groups and rulers of the city in the past. Istanbul, therefore, helps in understanding world history due to the evidence that it holds from cuisine, various cultures, architecture and religion. Khan (2013) It is however important to note that, despite the presence of multiple cultures coming into Istanbul, the city has also been famous for influencing culture around the globe due to its glorious past. Presence of historical evidence gives the city an edge in aiding any scholar or individual understand world history. The cultural significance of Istanbul is, therefore, the best asset that city holds that has made it an important focal point on the globe. References. Bozdogan, S. (2001). Modernism and nation building: Turkish architectural culture in the early republic. University of Washington Press. Harrison, D., & Hitchcock, M. (Eds.). (2005). the politics of world heritage: Negotiating tourism and conservation. Channel View Publications. Khan, H. U. (2013). Architectural Conservation as a Tool for Cultural Continuity: A Focus on the Religious Built Environment of Islam. International Journal of Islamic Architecture, 2(2). Serageldin, I., Shluger, E., & Martin-Brown, J. (Eds.). (2001). Historic cities and sacred sites: cultural roots for urban futures. World Bank Publications. Read More

Istanbul, the culture capital city of and the largest city of Turkey, is divided by two continents, Europe and Asia. Istanbul is Located on the shores of the Marmara sea and Black sea that form the Bosporus, it is the second largest city in the Middle East occupying an area of about 5,350 square kilometers. The Bosporus, one of the busiest straits in the world, offers the city of Istanbul an access to international maritime routes hence making it a busy port city. The Bosporus divides Istanbul into its Asian and European sides while also acting as a boundary for the two continents.

Historically, the city has been an important focal point for administration of power, the economic hub and a melting pot for different cultures. Formerly known as Byzantium, Istanbul was established around 650 BC by the Roman Empire on its current location due to its strategic placement; it became a significant city holding an important part in the history. Emperor Constantine made Byzantium his capital and re-established it as Constantinople due to its strategic location. Constantinople served as the capital of four different empires starting with the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, the Latin and Ottoman Empire.

The roman and byzantine eras coincided with the reign of the powerful and influential catholic popes making Constantinople, a Christian city and an instrumental base in the propagation of Christianity. The Ottoman Empire however conquered Constantinople and introduced Islam renaming it Istanbul. Why is the city important? A location, city, place or object can be termed as important and culturally significant if it holds its place I history as a zone of exchange for human values, ways of life.

Cultural significance can also be attributed to the presence of architectural developments from ancient times that have shaped how past, present and future developments relate to each other in terms of aesthetics and design. (Explain how Istanbul is) Istanbul adheres to the aforementioned condition since it has always been a zone for the exchange of human values and way of life hence creating its own unique culture. Serageldin et al. (2001) also note that a city can hold cultural significance.

The presence of settlements such as ancient traditional housing, palaces, castles and administrative buildings that were built in different eras can act as evidence. The landscape of the area helps to create tourist attraction sites or form a heritage site due to the history associated with the buildings. Bozdogan (2001) notes of the ottoman style palaces, buildings and reference to Istanbul by architects to study architecture. Importance is given to the knowledge of architectural history and design that is in the ancient buildings that survived the Young Turk revolution.

Architectural history up to date still gives reference to the combination of design works found in the Istanbul landscape and how this shaped a part of the practice. Palaces, citadels, donned the Istanbul landscape before most of them were demolished by the Turk revolution to give room for expansion of the city during the nationalism era. Some of the establishments remained such as the Topkapi palace, the Dolmabahçe palace, the Beylerbeyi and Çırağan palaces. Other buildings that don the Istanbul landscape and hold an important part of history is the Hagia Sofia, currently serving as a museum.

The Hagia Sofia was built by emperor Justinian in the year 537 as a church serving a seat for the eastern orthodox from the year 537 to around 1450. A shift occurred though from Orthodox to Roman Catholic in the year 1204 and around 1260 but later changed into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire period and finally a museum. The importance of the building; it holds accounts of historical events that came to shape the modern day city. A place may also hold cultural significance if it was and still were directly associated with past or current events and way of life and how it helps change the culture of its inhabitants.

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