Table Of Contents - Istanbul International Community School

1.1 HISTORY
1.2 LOCATION
1.3 CLIMATE
1.4 POLITICAL SITUATION & SAFETY
1. Turkey and Istanbul
From a historical point of view, Istanbul, which sits astride two continents, is one of the great cities of the world.
The region has a long, rich, and complex history dating back to Neolithic times. Istanbul itself has been inhabited
for almost three thousand years, and has been the capital of two of the most important empires in history, the
Byzantine and the Ottoman. The city has grown at an incredible rate over the last two decades but still retains its
charm and character.
About two thirds of Istanbul is in Europe and one third in Asia. The city limits stretch from the Black Sea to the
Sea of Marmara connected by the Bosphorus strait. Turkey itself, having been at the crossroads between East
and West, has a wealth of historical sites, as well as a variety of land and seascapes. It has something to offer
everyone.
There are four distinct seasons in Istanbul. The autumn is mild, the winter is wet, cold and unpredictable, with
near-blizzard snowfall some years and other years no snow at all. The spring is cool, and the summer is quite
warm. Air pollution is noticeable during the winter months in the city center, although it has improved
considerably since many areas have switched from coal heating to natural gas.
The Republic of Turkey is a parliamentary democracy constituionally committed to the secular ideals of its
founder, Kemal Atatürk. However, its current ruling administration, AKP (the Justice and Development Party),
has favored more conservative policies that have been called into question by Turkey's secular establishment.
Istanbul is a large and crowded city, and though it is fairly safe, newcomers are advised to exercise the same
caution they would in any large city. Burglary and purse-snatchings do happen, but are rare. While it is
acceptable to dress according to taste, women may find that revealing clothing will attract unwelcome attention.
Be wary of the many street dogs; rabies, though rare, has been reported.
IICS ISTANBUL NEWCOMERS' GUIDE 2010-2011
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