İstanbul as the center of caliphate or city, religion and politics

Abstract

Istanbul did not only remain the capital city of the Ottoman Empire following its conquest but also became a spiritual town by acquiring an identity as the center of caliphate. This is a process shaped by what we may call philosophical, political, religious, cultural fundaments and a vivid history. This characteristic, having continued de facto until the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and culturally after it, presents a remarkable picture. This study discusses Istanbul, one of the huge cities serving as the center of caliphate, and offers an evaluation of scattered information gathered and classified from relevant sources.