The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul
Title: The Grand Bazaar
Patron: Sultan Mehmed II (Mehmed the Conqueror)
Date: 1455 AD
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
The Grand Bazaar was commissioned by Sultan Mehmet II (b.1432 d.1481) in 1455. Commissioned with the intent to bring more wealth to the region and to bolster the economy of Istanbul, Mehmet II originally envisioned a large shopping area dedicated to the trade of textiles and jewelry. The bazaar was not initially planned and mapped out, as we find today with modern shopping centers or urban areas. The bazaar of Istanbul developed more organically, and the architectural development contributed towards the fostering of the larger community of Istanbul. The old bazaar was not much different than the department stores or general shops that we Americans visit in our daily lives.