"Facing Crises: Challenges and Opportunities Confronting the Third Sector and Civil Society"
Kadir Has University
Istanbul, Turkey
July 7-10, 2010
Ninth International Conference of theInternational Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR)
Istanbul
Located in the center of the Old World, Istanbul is one of the world's great cities famous for its historical monuments and magnificent scenic beauties. It is the only city in the world which spreads over two continents: it lies at a point where Asia and Europe are separated by a narrow strait - the Bosphorus. Istanbul has a history of over 2,500 years, and ever since its establishment on this strategic junction of lands and seas, the city has been a crucial trade center. Fortune provided such advantages to Istanbul as an easily defensible peninsula, an ideal climate, a rich and generous nature, control of the strategic Bosphorus, and a central geographical position in the ancient world.The historic city of Istanbul is situated on a peninsula flanked on three sides by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. It has been the capital of three great empires, the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, and for more than 1,600 years over 120 emperors and sultans ruled the world from here. Surrounded by 5th century Roman city walls and stretching over seven hills, Istanbul is adorned by the masterpieces of Roman, Byzantine and Turkish art. With the great mosques of the Sultans crowning the hills, the city presents an exquisite, majestic and serene silhouette from all directions. As a capital of empires, the city was not only an administrative, but also a religious center. The Patriarchate of Eastern Christians has been headquartered here since its establishment, and the largest early churches and monasteries of the Christian world rose in this city on top of the pagan temples. Within a century after the city was conquered, it was enriched with mosques, palaces, schools, baths and other architectural monuments that gave it a Turkish character, while some of the existing churches in ruins were repaired, altered and converted into mosques. Between the 16th century when the Ottoman sultans acquired themselves the title of the "Caliph of Islam" and 1924, the first year of the Republic, Istanbul was also the headquarters of the Caliphate. More Jews settled in Istanbul than any other port, and here they built themselves a new life after they fled Spain in the 15th century. Istanbul has always been a city of tolerance where mosques, churches and synagogues exist side by side.
During the decline of the Ottoman Empire, the influence of European art and culture made itself felt in the new palaces, while the northern slopes of the Golden Horn, Galata and Beyoglu districts assumed a European character. Even when the Empire, which was a party to World War I, collapsed and the young Republic that replaced it moved the capital to Ankara, Istanbul did not lose its significance. The city has enjoyed the lion's share of Turkey's progress, and occupies a central place in almost all spheres in Turkey except for politics. However, this growth has not been without consequences: the haphazard development that began in the years following World War II and accelerated in the following decades has unfortunately had a negative impact on the fabric of the old city and left Istanbul with problems such as population growth, traffic congestion, unauthorized constructions, and conserving historical monuments and buildings.
Today, Istanbul maintains a distinguished position among the metropolis of the world with its unique geographical location and a cultural heritage of thousands of years. The city is now getting ready for a new millennium with comprehensive projects concerning environmental issues, new housing, additions to the subway system, emphasis of sea routes in transportation, and new international congress centers. Cultural activities, tourism and commerce continue to play an important role in the life of the city. As one of the most energetic cities in the world, Istanbul continually gets to be an attraction center: it will be the European Capital of Culture in year 2010, which will give the city a special chance to showcase its cultural life and cultural development to its visitors.
Sources: Governorship of Istanbul Website: www.english.istanbul.gov.tr; Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Website: www.istanbul2010.org
Climate
Istanbul has a climate combining those of the Mediterranean and Black Seas types, with a hot dry summer. Approximate temperatures for July are 20-33°C / 68-91°F.
Currency
The unit of currency in Turkey in Yeni Türk Lirasi (YTL). 1 Yeni KuruÕ is 1/100 of 1 YTL. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 1 YTL. Paper money is available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 YTL.