ugursolak

FLAG SHIELD

LOCATIONThe Republic of Turkey is an Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe.

It is bordered by eight countries: Bulgaria to the northwest, Greece to the west, Georgia to the northeast, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran to the east, and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. The capital of Turkey is Ankara, but the most populated is Istanbul.

HISTORYAntiquity

The Anatolian peninsula (also called Minor Asia), comprising most of modern Turkey, is one of the oldest continually inhabited regions in the world due to its location at the intersection of Asia and Europe.

Göbekli Tepe, the first evidence of man presence in the world.

Portion of the legendary walls Troy (VII), identified as the site of the Trojan War

The Turks and the Ottoman Empire

In the 10th century, the Seljuks started migrating from their ancestral homelands towards the eastern regions of Anatolia, which eventually became the new homeland of Oğuz Turkic tribes following the Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt) in 1071.

Map from Mahmud al-Kashgari's Diwanu Lughat at-Turk, showing the 11th century distribution of Turkic tribes.

The Republic Era

The occupation of İstanbul and İzmir by the Allies at the end of World War I prompted the establishment of the Turkish national movement.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey

LANGUAGE

Turkish is the sole official language throughout Turkey.

RELIGION

Turkey is officially a secular Republic. The Turkish Constitution provides the freedom of religion and conscience, but does not represent or promote a religion. The population of Turkey is predominantly Muslim (99%), the majority are Sunni (75%) and a large minority are Alevi (15-25%).The remainder of the population are mainly Christians (mostly Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic) and Jews (96% Sephardi and 4% Ashkenazi). According to a nationwide survey in 2007, 96.8% of Turkish citizens have a religion, while 3.2% are irreligious and atheists. 56% of male Muslim citizens regularly attend Friday prayers.

Blue Mosque

TYPE OF CURRENCY

New Turkish Lira:100 kuruş

1,00 €= 2,107 new Turkish lira

CULTURE

MUSIC

Turkish folk music has combined the distinct cultural values of all those civilisations which have lived in Anatolia and the Ottoman territories in Europe and Asia.

TRADITIONAL DANCES

Horon

Kaşık Oyunu

Kılıç Kankan

Zeybek

Whirling Derviches Sufi Dancing

Mevlevi Sema Ceremony

Popular figures

Nasrettin Hoca

He is a medieval legendary satirical Sufi figure.] Nasreddin was a populist philosopher and wise man, remembered for his funny stories and anecdotes.Much of Nasreddin's actions can be described as illogical yet logical, rational yet irrational, bizarre yet normal, foolish yet sharp, and simple yet profound. What adds even further to his uniqueness is the way he gets across his messages in unconventional yet very effective methods in a profound simplicity.

Hacivat and Karagöz Traditional Turkish Puppets Shadow Play. Developed from religious, moral and educational urge to imitate human actions.

Yunus Emre one of the most important Turkish poets. He was a Sufi Muslim ascetic of Anatolia. He probably lived in the Karaman area. His poetry expresses a deep personal mysticism and humanism and love for God.

Köroğlu the hero "son of the blind man", defending his clan against threats from outside. Köroğlu earns his name from the wrongful blinding of his father, an act for which the son takes his revenge and which initiates his series of adventures. He is portrayed as a bandit and a poet.A number of songs and melodies attributed to Köroğlu survives in the folk tradition.

Important Monuments

Interior of an early Ottoman mosque in Edirne

Interior of the Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

Topkapı Palace, Istanbul

Traditional waterfront houses, called vali, on the Bosporus

One of the main entrance gates of the Dolmabahçe Palace

Close up view of Dolmabahçe Palace from the Bosporus

Beylerbeyi Palace from the Bosphorus

Center Anatolia

TURKISH CUISINE

Turkish coffee

Turkish Delight

Döner kebap

Şiş kebapAdana kebap

İskender kebap It is a kind of döner kebab prepared from thinly cut grilled lamb or beef basted with tomato sauce over pieces of pide bread and generously slathered with melted butter and yogurt. Tomato sauce and boiling butter are sometimes poured over the dish, at the table.

Manti: Turkish ravioli

Dolma

Simit is a circular bread with sesame seeds

SPORTYagli is a Turkish fight and a national sport. It is commonly known as flight in oil because flighters grease themselves in oil.

CURIOSITIES

Many names of cities as Philadelphia, Paris, Troy originated in Anatolia.

Two of seven marvels of the world were in Anatolia: Artemis's temple in Efesus and the mausoleum in Halicarnasus (Bodrum).

CURIOSITIES

Anatolia was the main site for Christianity. Abraham was born in Sanliurfa, the city we are

working on our European project. Seven churches of the Apocalypsis are placed in

Anatolia: Efesus, Ismirna, Pergamundo, Tiatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

Mount Ararat is in Anatolia. Ararat is the place where Noe's ark remains are.