The Entire History of Constantinople // Istanbul Documentary

In October 2019 I took a trip to one of the greatest cities in the world. It only took me over 3 years to make the video. Let me know what you think in the comments and where you'd like to see me visit next. Cheers all & happy new year!

Incredible in todays age I can sit down for an hour and learn about a city thousands of miles away and thousands of years old while getting a tour of it.

Just spent a week in Istanbul: there are no words to describe how this city enveloped me. Amazing, amazing place and people.

One of the best documentaries of Pete Kelly, condensing thousands of years of history, narrated in his captivating voice, with sound effects, and pictures. So mesmerising that one wishes not to move ears and eyes away from it till the video ends. I'm not sure whether it is the mystique of Istanbul, the style of the narrator, or both that keep one so engaged.

I am truly blessed to be a Turk I grew up in the states and I am an American but my roots run deep!! I have loads of family in Turkey! Beautiful, historic, world class!!! This was an amazing documentary!! Thank you very much!!

I went here in 2015. I tell everyone it is somewhere they must go before they die. Most hospitable and kindest people. You MUST go to the top of Galata Tower

Constantinople, the "New Rome" of Roman Emperor Constantine I, was established with the goal of transferring the Roman culture, political nexus and economic and military headquarters to the eastern side of the Roman Empire. Constantine's legacy survived for another 1000 years after his decease. Astounding just to think about the weight of it all.

I (American) walked from the north harbor chain to Haya Sophia. I continued past Constantine's column to the Theodosian II walls first walking all the way to the north until it began to drop to the sea and then backtracked walking south along the walls inside a couple gates climbing up a few stairways to the top and then in a couple of towers down to the Golden Gate (I happen to be from SF ironically) fulfilling one of my dreams!

I love Istanbul/Constantinople/Byzantium and been lucky enough to visit there twice. I hope to go back someday soon. Thanks for bringing back old memories.

Revisiting your channel. You have it right on in your narrative. I love that. I walked 100 miles in Istanbul in 5 days awaiting my visa to Syria. The city teams with life and its energetic drone continues unabated since the time of mythology. The smell, the sights, the sounds, the feel and the tastes there are unforgettable. Thank you for taking me back

The Balyan family was one of the most well-known Armenian families during the Ottoman era. Coming from Central Anatolia, family members served as imperial architects for years and are remembered as the masterminds behind many palaces, mosques and barracks like the Dolmabahçe Mosque and the Beylerbeyi Palace—-

first impression: I didn't expect the religious buildings (and hagia Sophia) to so beautifully highlight the "constantinopilan/istanbulian" skyline. Some well done shots here.

I am of Byzantine descent. I am married to a Greek Constantinopolitan lady whose parental family was living in Constantinople - probably ever since the city was founded by Constantine. Her ancestors were NOT some kind of "immigrants" in Constantinople. They were Greek - Byzantines, the predominant ethnicity in Byzantium (and especially in Constantinople)! In 1964 my wife's family was expelled by the Turks from Constantinople (the city that the Turks call Istanbul - paraphrasing its Greek name. Till a century ago Constantinople had a thriving population of almost 300.000 Greeks!). My wife and I are preserving in our house centuries old family heirlooms, books, ikons etc. from Constantinople, which are Greek in every sense! Me and my Constantinopolitan wife feel 100% Greek and we perceive our centuries old Byzantine/Constantinopolitan ancestors as Greeks (that's what history and our centuries old heirlooms are telling us)! That's why I am surprised by the comment you make in the beginning of the video that "Constantinople was a Roman capital for over thousand years"! We don't feel "Romans" dear Pete Kelly! Neither we feel that our Byzantine ancestors were "Romans"! They were Greek - Byzantines in every sense! You don't mention at all though the fact that Byzantium was predominantly Greek! You rather allude to it being either "Roman" or Turkish (or something else)! Nor you particularly mention the impressive fact that the Turks are not indigenous to Asia Minor/ Anatolia but they arrived in this niche of the world coming over as a marauding people from their homeland, the "Altay Plateau" in Mongolia!

I've visited Turkey 7 times, starting in 1989, visiting everywhere except the Northeast area. I must say my favourite city has got to be Istanbul. So much history and interesting architecture. The food of course is incredible. Pete, you mentioned that Europe meets Asia on the Golden Horn (Palic), perhaps you meant to say the Bosphorus. The Golden Horn is the river which feeds into the Bosphorus and separates the old city from the new. In Ottoman times Europeans were not allowed to live in the old section and had to live in the new city where the Galata tower and Taksim are located. Thanks for the video.

Excellent documentary. I was in Istanbul in early 2019 for the first time. An absolutely amazing place. I can’t wait to visit again.

I loved it thankyou I was born in Constandinople I am Greek but leaving in Canada the circumstances brood us here but still I miss my birth place so much 🇨🇦🇨🇦👏👏

Dear Pete Kelly, Would you want to make a video together on the Elamite people? I found out that the Elam society, people and state is one of the oldest societies that had ever existed, and lasted well into the late antiquity era. Ive been doing as much research as I can into it. Its incredibly fascinating and reads like a storybook. Best, GH

I can’t believe you missed the history of Tokapi Palace.....but you’ll return to Turkey for Capadocia, Ephesus, etc etc LOVE the fresh taste of the food.!!

..after seeing that the situation at Kerkoporta could not be controlled by the outnumbered Genoese men of the Bocchiardi brothers, the Emperor reined in and galloped towards the Valley of the Wolf (where the Roman Gate was located). With him was the fearless Theophilus Palaiologos, the Emperor's cousin, the brave Spanish Don Francis of Toledo, who admired Constantine Palaiologos Dragasis, and his loyal Comrade John the Dalmatian. Many Greeks tried to gather around these four men, but in vain, the carnage was great! they were trying to secure the entrances of the Roman Gate but already the defenses had been breached. Theophilus Palaiologos shouted that he would rather die than live the dishonor and rushed against the wave of Janissaries!! The Emperor now knew that the empire was lost and so was he. he wanted to die fighting to the end. He removed the imperial symbols and together with his fellow warriors Don Francisco and John the Dalmatian followed Theophilus towards the barbarian lines with swords held high! No one ever saw the brave Emperor again!!!!. Sir Steven Runciman (From his Book, The Fall of Constantinople)

It would really be helpful for us history buffs/enthusiasts that haven’t visited Istanbul if you could just list down all the places you have visited in this video so we can too. It would be much appreciated- thank you