Rather than merely being a part of its history, Istanbul has written history as one of the few rare cities. To understand Istanbul's cultural richness today, we must look at the city's founding mission centered on civilization. As a manifestation of Ottoman and Islamic civilization and an Islamic city, Istanbul has played a significant role in the encounter between East and West. When compared to European capitals, Istanbul's multicultural and multi-ethnic structure is indebted to the Ottoman value system. If Istanbul had not assumed a foundational role as an Ottoman city, Byzantium and many of its successor elements could not have survived, and the city could not have possessed such cultural richness.