Taksim, From City's Largest Cemetery To the Most Important Center
The district of Galata, which has been a settlement since the end of antiquity, was known as Sykai or İncirlik in those times. In 325 AD, Emperor Constantine fortified this area by surrounding it with walls while constructing Constantinople. During this period, the district had 431 major residences along with churches, forums, baths, a theater, and a port. Emperor Theodosius (408-450) recognized the area as the thirteenth region of the city and organized it accordingly. When referring to this area, the residents living within the walls of Constantinople used the expression "Peran en Sykais," which meant "the fig tree grove across" and was abbreviated as Pera, a name that has survived to the present day. In 528 AD, Emperor Justinian reconstructed and reorganized this district, just like many other parts of the capital. As a result, the district began to be known as Iustinianai or Justinianopolis. However, due to its significant port and status as a major trading cent...