Q 01/05

Istanbul lies on the strait between the Black Sea and which smaller inland sea?

A) The Sea of Marmara

B) The Aegean Sea

C) The Sea of Azov

D) The Ionian Sea

Answer · why

A) The Sea of Marmara

The Bosporus links the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, which opens through the Dardanelles to the Aegean; about two-thirds of the city's 15 million p...

Q 02/05

Which city replaced Istanbul as Turkey's seat of government in 1923?

A) İzmir

B) Ankara

C) Bursa

D) Konya

Answer · why

B) Ankara

The Republic chose Ankara as capital in 1923, but Istanbul remains the economic, cultural and historical centre.

Q 03/05

The city was founded around 657 BC by Greek colonists from Megara under what name?

A) Chalcedon

B) Nicomedia

C) Byzantium

D) Thessalonica

Answer · why

C) Byzantium

Byzantium was founded by colonists from Megara around 657 BC; legend traced them to Byzas, son of Poseidon and the nymph Ceroëssa, and a Thracian vill...

Q 04/05

Which Roman emperor refounded the city in 324 AD, initially calling it New Rome?

A) Diocletian

B) Justinian I

C) Theodosius I

D) Constantine the Great

Answer · why

D) Constantine the Great

It was proclaimed capital of the Roman Empire on 11 May 330 and kept his name for 1,600 years.

Q 05/05

The name 'Istanbul' is commonly held to derive from a Medieval Greek phrase meaning what?

A) Golden city

B) New Rome

C) To the city

D) City of peace

Answer · why

C) To the city

Istanbul comes from the Greek eis tḕn Pólin, 'to the city', since it was the only major city around; the Ottomans also nicknamed it Dersaadet, the 'Ga...