Ataturk's renaming of Constantinople to Istanbul was part of a massive modernization campaign that transformed Turkey from an Islamic empire into a secular republic. He adopted Western legal codes, the Latin alphabet, and European business practices, opening Turkey to international trade and investment. Turkey's strategic position bridging Europe and Asia made it an essential commercial hub. The country's GDP grew dramatically under modernization, and Istanbul became one of the world's most important commercial cities. Rebranding a city was rebranding an economy.