At the Crossroads of Europe and Asia
Türkiye is bordered by eight countries: Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan in the east; by Georgia in the northeast, by Bulgaria and Greece in the northwest, and by Iraq, and Syria. Over the centuries, there have been various struggles, conquests, and changes of power, which have all shaped the nation into its current setting as a gateway between the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
Turkish culture
Turkish culture has undergone a huge shift in the last 100 years. Before 1923, the Ottoman Empire was a multi-ethnic state. However, it was segregated, and ethnic and religious groups did not mix with each other, retaining their own separate identities. That changed with the birth of the Turkish Republic, however, as the country began to look towards an approach that integrated its diverse cultures to produce one national identity.
Today, Türkiye is a modern country with a diverse group of intertwined cultures including Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Armenians, and Syrians. There’s also a strong divide between rural and cosmopolitan living, with Turks in the countryside adopting a more conservative way of life, while city-dwelling Turks look to a more modern way of life.
Türkiye is home to some 80 million citizens. Three-quarters of the population is of Turkish ancestry, primarily progressive Muslims. Türkiye is also home to a large population of Muslim Kurds, comprising roughly 18% of the population of Türkiye. In the last few years, Türkiye has also become home to a high number of Syrian refugees, and around 3.5 million are thought to live in the country.
Türkiye’s population is overwhelmingly youthful and upwardly mobile. Young professionals are moving to the cities in greater numbers, changing the face of Türkiye’s urban centers, and driving its economy.
Turkish history
Before Türkiye became a republic, the land was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman state was formed in 1299 with the uniting of a number of Turkish tribes. However, it wasn’t until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 that the Ottoman state truly became an empire. From that point, until 1683, the Ottoman Empire continued to grow, through a series of conquests and invasions of other territories and tribes.
During the peak of the Ottoman Empire’s control of the region, the empire ruled over a population of more than 15,000,000.
The mighty empire began to crumble in the 18th century, as a series of wars took their toll on the Ottomans, who battled on many fronts and with many of its territories.
By World War I, the sun had set on the Ottomans, and 1923 saw the birth of the Republic of Türkiye. One of the founders of this new movement was Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Ataturk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer who led the Turkish National Movement during the Turkish War of Independence.
After his victory, Ataturk began transitioning the Ottoman Empire into a European Nation-State. He oversaw the opening of new schools, began government reform programs, and lowered taxes. The emergence of this new type of government in Türkiye was the start of its growth into a modernized European nation.
Türkiye’s geography
Türkiye is more than just beaches. The country is home to a diverse and rich collection of landscapes. Surrounded by three seas, Türkiye has some 8000 kilometers of coastline. The country is divided into seven geographical regions: the Aegean, Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia, Black Sea, Marmara, and the Mediterranean region. The largest land area of Türkiye is Anatolia, which connects Türkiye to Asia. Most of Anatolia is comprised of narrow coastal plains and high plateaus. In the east, most of the land is mountainous and connected to major river systems.
Total Area: 783, 562 square km
Climate: Dry and hot summers and mild winters
Highest Point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Lowest Point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
