Map of Constantinople and surrounding areas, 1855-63

The map of Constantinople engraved by C. Stolpe between 1855 and 1863 represents Istanbul at the height of the Ottoman reform era (Tanzimat), when the city modernized while maintaining its multi-confessional structure. Printed in French and German, it reflects European interest in the urban space of the Bosphorus and in the control of the straits. The planimetric map highlights the districts of the capital, distinguishing areas inhabited by Muslims, Christians, and Jews, with a dedication to Sultan Abdul Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 1861. The map, a product of printed cartography from the second half of the 19th century, documents the coexistence of powers, communities, and port infrastructures in a bridge city between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

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