How did the Ottoman Empire change the city of Constantinople? The Empire changed the city's name to Istanbul made it an academic center, and burned all churches to the ground. The Empire changed the city's name to Mecca.made it an academic center, and converted an important church into a mosque. The Empire changed the city's name to Mecca,made it the capital,and turned an important church into the Taj Mahal. The Empire changed the city's name to Istanbul,made it the capital and turned an important church into a mosque.