The Republic of Turkey lies partly in Asia and partly in Europe. The mixture of peoples and ideas from these two regions has shaped the country's history and culture. For centuries Turkey was the heart of two great empires—one Christian, the other Islamic. The country's past is recalled in its archaeological treasures and ancient historical sites. The capital is Ankara. GeographyMost of Turkey lies in southwestern Asia, but a small part of the country is in southeastern Europe. The Asian part of Turkey is a peninsula that juts westward from the Asian mainland. The peninsula has been known by two names—Anatolia or Asia Minor. It is separated from the European part of the country by straits and the Sea of Marmara. The area of Turkey is 300,948 square miles (779,452 square kilometers). Turkey is bordered by the Black Sea to the north. Georgia, Armenia, and Iran are to the east. To the south are Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea. The Aegean Sea, Greece, and Bulgaria lie to the west. The Asian part of Turkey is marked by mountains and a central plateau, or raised flat area. The only true lowlands are along the coast. In the eastern part of the peninsula stands Turkey's highest peak, Mount Ararat, which rises 16,853 feet (5,137 meters). The European part of Turkey consists mainly of lowlands. Much of Turkey is geologically unstable, and severe earthquakes have occurred. The country's longest river, the Kizil, flows through the peninsula. The great Tigris and Euphrates rivers begin in the heart of eastern Turkey and flow to the southern border. Turkey's climate is heavily influenced by the sea and the mountains. The plateau has cold winters, often with high winds. Most of the plateau is dry throughout the year because the surrounding mountains block moisture from the seas. The coast generally has hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Plants and animalsBecause of its dry climate, Turkey has limited plant life. Treeless grasslands and bare hills cover much of the country. Pines, oaks, cedars, junipers, and chestnuts grow along the coast. Turkey has a wide variety of animal life. Deer, wild goats, bears, and lynx are found in the Mediterranean coastal regions. Gazelles and hyenas live in the drier areas of the plateau and the east. Wolves, jackals, badgers, and otters are found throughout the country. Birds include buzzards, storks, vultures, and eagles. People and cultureThroughout its history, Turkey has been home to a number of peoples. They included the ancient Hittites as well as Persians, Celts, Romans, Arabs, and Seljuk Turks. Modern Turks, who make up the majority of the country's population, are a mixture of these peoples. They speak Turkish, which is the official language. Most of the rest of the people are Kurds. They live in eastern Turkey and have their own language. Almost all of the people of Turkey practice the religion of Islam. The majority of the population lives in cities and towns. The largest city is Istanbul. Once known as Constantinople, Istanbul served as the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Ankara became the capital of modern Turkey in 1923. Turkish culture combines Middle Eastern and European influences. Traditional folk themes remain popular. Turkey is known throughout the world for its carpets and decorative arts. EconomyFor many years agriculture was the basis of Turkey's economy. In the 20th century, however, industry and services became the most productive parts of the economy. The country's leading manufacturing industry is textile and clothing production. Other products include processed foods, iron and steel, oil, chemicals, automobiles, and electronics. Tourism is a leading service industry in Turkey. The climate of the Mediterranean coast and its beaches are major attractions. The historic buildings and museums of Istanbul are also popular. Despite the growth in industry and services, more than one third of the Turkish workforce is employed in agriculture. The most important crops include wheat, barley, cotton, tobacco, hazelnuts, sugar beets, citrus fruits, and figs. Sheep, cattle, and goats are the main livestock. HistoryTurkey's history dates back to at least 7000 BC, when the area was known as Anatolia. The early history of the region was marked by foreign invasions. The first major invasion occurred in about 2000 BC, when the Hittites took over the land. The Hittites were followed by the Persians and Romans. Roman and Byzantine empiresUnder the Roman Empire, Anatolia was at peace. In AD 330 the Roman Emperor Constantine moved the empire's capital eastward from Rome to a new city that became known as Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). In AD 395 the Roman Empire was divided into western and eastern parts. The eastern part, governed from Constantinople, came to be known as the Byzantine Empire. Christianity became the empire's primary religion. During the 11th century the Seljuk Turks invaded Anatolia from Central Asia. The Seljuks were followers of Islam. In 1071 they defeated the Byzantine army and conquered the city of Jerusalem. During the next two centuries the Christians of Europe fought the Turks in a series of wars known as the Crusades. Ottoman EmpireIn the 13th century a new group of Turkish invaders arrived in Anatolia. They founded the great Ottoman Empire. In 1453 the Ottomans captured Constantinople. They renamed the city Istanbul and made it the capital of their empire. The Ottoman Empire reached its height in the late 15th and 16th centuries. At its greatest extent, the empire stretched across North Africa, the Middle East, and southeastern Europe. The power of the empire began to decline slowly in the second half of the 16th century. By the end of the 19th century the government of the empire was close to collapse. The rise of Atatürk - The Atatürk Mausoleum in Ankara, Turkey, is the final resting place of Mustafa Kemal. The …
Hoping to regain its former power, the Ottoman Empire entered World War I (1914–18) on the side of Germany. The war was devastating to the empire. After their defeat, Ottoman leaders signed a treaty by which they gave up much of the empire's territory. Many Turks were angered by these events. A military leader named Mustafa Kemal formed a separate government. He then led Turkish forces in driving invading Greek forces from Anatolia. In 1923 Turkey was proclaimed a republic with Kemal as its president. The city of Ankara was made the new capital. Kemal soon declared himself dictator and took the name Atatürk, which is Turkish for “father of the Turks.” Atatürk ordered a number of reforms with the goal of making Turkey a more modern country. The country's economy was reorganized, and Islam's role in Turkish society was reduced. Islamic schools and courts were closed. Atatürk banned the wearing of traditional clothes, such as the Turkish hat known as a fez. He also gave women the right to vote and to hold political office. Turkey after AtatürkFollowing Atatürk's death in 1938, Turkey continued to modernize. Turkey remained neutral during most of World War II (1939–45). It entered the war on the Allied side just months before the fighting ended. After the war Turkish leaders sought to create a more open and democratic government. Turkey developed closer relations to Western nations and joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1952. Beginning in the 1950s Turkey had several disputes with Greece over the island of Cyprus. The island has communities of both ethnic Turks and Greeks. In 1963 civil war broke out between the two groups. Greece and Turkey almost went to war before the United Nations sent forces to help control the conflict. Turkish forces invaded Cyprus in 1974, occupying the northern part of the island. The island remains divided. Turkey experienced a number of political crises during the second half of the 20th century. On several occasions the crises became so severe that the Turkish military stepped in. In 1960 and 1980 the military overthrew the country's government and took control. In 1997 the military forced the prime minister to resign because it opposed the growing influence of Islam in the government. Turkey also faced an ongoing rebellion by its Kurdish population. The Kurds have sought greater freedom for their region in eastern Turkey. Population (2000 estimate), 65,667,000. |