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| | Istanbul. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05 |
 | | The city was destroyed (1509) by an earthquake and was rebuilt by Sultan Beyazid II. |
 | | and from that period date most of its magnificent mosques, notably those of Beyazid II, Sulayman I, and Ahmed I. They all reflect the influence of the Hagia Sophiayet are distinctly Turkishand give the skyline of Istanbul its unique character, a succession of perfectly proportioned domes punctuated by minarets. |
 | | The Seraglio, begun by Muhammad II in 1462, consists of many buildings and kiosks, grouped into three courts, the last of which contained the treasury, the harem, and the private apartments of the ruler. |
| www.bartleby.com /65/is/Istanbul.html (730 words) |
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