After Sultan Mehmet II conquered Constantinople he went out restoring the vast city. His building program included the imperial Topkapi Palace, the education and religious center in the Fatih Mosque, and a bazaar (market) as a trade and industry center.  These three centers allowed for a close interaction between the government, higher education/religious establishment and merchants.

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is the center of commerce, trade, and industrial activity of the Ottoman Empire and covers over 300,000 square feet and 65 streets.  More than 4,000 shops, 2 fabric markets, 7 fountains, 1 well, 2 mosques, and 20 fabric manufacturing centers.  

No record is available as to when the 65 streets of the Grand Bazaar were covered.  The roofs have small windows on the sides or on the walls to allow for natural light.  Originally, each street was devoted to the sale of one particular kind of good, thus, the names of the streets reflected the trade practiced on that street.  According to eastern practices, there are no signs, ornaments, or ads to show the identity of the craftsmen or shopkeepers.  Turkish-Islamic culture regarded any endeavor to attract customers or to praise one’s own skill or goods as shameful and degrading.  Sale items were simply displayed on the shelves that were mainly shopping and specialty goods.  People would join the owner sitting on the bench to carry out business leisurely.

Business practices and security of the Grand Bazaar were monitored by the highest officers of the government very closely.  Each week, the head of the government, the chief justice, and the chief of the armed forces audited the Grand Bazaar.  Traders or artisans who infringed craft or trade rules or regulations were punished severely.

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