In the history of the city, these features o en intertwine. Istanbul is a port city, a military city, a poli cal city that was the center of two empires, a commercial city which served as a mee ng point for transna onal colonial networks, a financial city, an educa onal city with numerous secondary and higher educa on ins tu ons, and also a cultural city that func oned as the center of ethno-religious diversity. This complex formula has resulted in both its fortune and misfortune. As the mee ng point of passageways and ac vi es that join together many ci es spread over two con nents, Istanbul is also a vital bridge for numerous social networks. Including the Balkans and Asia Minor, it can be considered to be in the economic and poli cal heart Eastern Europe. Like the Marmara Sea, Istanbul is a place where the cultural ecologies of the Aegean and Black Seas intertwine. The city was established on firm land to the north of the Marmara Sea, which connects the Aegean and Black Seas, and towards the southern end of the Bosphorus, straits that have undisputed geo-strategic importance. Istanbul lies at a key intersec on of strategic sea-lanes, and connects two con nents, working as a hinge-city. Due to its unique geographical posi on, Istanbul's economic and poli cal influence spread over a wide area.
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