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The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is often regarded as one of the first shopping malls of the world.
The Grand Bazaar's construction began in 1455/56 under Sultan Mehmed II to boost Istanbul’s economy. The Cevâhir Bedesten housed textile and jewelry trade, later joined by the Sandal Bedesten in 1545 for textiles. By the 17th century, it had become a major Mediterranean trade hub with 3,000 shops, 67 streets, and 18 gates.
Fires, earthquakes, and economic shifts led to its decline in the 19th century. The 1894 earthquake reduced its size, and the Sandal Bedesten became an auction house in 1914. Restorations in 1959 and 1980 preserved the Bazaar as a historic marketplace.
References:The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.