“Turkey”

Due to Turkey's rich culture and historical background it is now a popular destination among
tourists. The history of the Turks go way back nearly 4,000 years ago. Around the year 2,000 B.C Most of
the early Turks left Central Asia where they were presumably living during their early ages in time. Some
of the Turks didn’t like their early lifestyle causing them to leave in search for new homes which they
would later go to other empires such as Asia, Europe, some empires who actually kept record of the
Turks in their empire were the Hun Empire, Eygur Empire and the GokTurk Empire. The remaining Turks
decided to settle in Anatolia in the early 11th century, they couldn’t risk being invaded by bandits and
robbers anymore and they were tired of migrating. Due to the battle between the Malagrit’s and the
Byzantine Empire the Turks decided to take it for themselves and later conquered the whole of Anatolia.
Anatolia was known to be the “first Turkish state” (1080-1308). Now, it is known as the “Konya
Sultanate”.

The Ottoman Age began during the years of 1299 through 1923. The Seljuk state had started to
decline rapidly due to the Mongol invasion attacks on Anatolia which started in 1243. 56 years before
the Ottoman Age had begun. The Turks, their leader at the time was Osman. He began to implement
principles into their daily lives this began in the end of the 13th century. In the 14th century; Ottoman
Beylik rose again and conquered three continents which lasted 623 years. Soon after the Ottoman
captured Constinople in 1453 during the reign of Sultan Mehmet 2nd. The Ottoman had rapid growth of
their empire till the 16th century, they ruled Greece, Albania, and Bulgaria all over today what is
considered the Middle East. The Ottoman fell because of they were not able to adapt to new changes
causing a decline in the Ottoman as well as nationalists movements, rebellions and self-determination
slowly brought the empire to its knees.

Most people didn’t know the Turks were also involved in World war 1 in 1914 and were
defeated in 1918. They were forced to sign the Mondros Armistice on October the 30 th 1918. The
Ottoman Empire truly ended and was now occupied by the British, French, Russians and Greeks.

Mustapha Kemal was known as the father of the Turks. He was the leader of the national resistance and
liberation movements. He was an Ottoman military commander who mobilize Anatolia for the quest of
the Turkish self-determination. The Turkish national liberation was an effort to create a new state from
the ruins of the fallen Ottoman Empire.
 Mustapha Kemal became the first president of turkey. His presidency lasted fifteen years. He
died in 1938. He was a reformer, bringing changes to the country politically, socially, economically,
legally and cultural spheres. The new political system he formed was based on 5 principles of
democracy, including Human rights, national sovereignty, division of power, private ownership and
separation of affairs and religion. The education system consisted of the Arabic system and later
changed to the Latin alphabet. Turkish women were granted equal rights, rights to vote and be elected
to office.

Some of the reasons for traveling to turkey include but are not limited to its food, money, and
its historical attractions. The food in turkey consists mainly of vegetables and small discrete portions of
meat such as lamb, chicken, beef, fish and even goat. The cost of fish in turkey is really cheap compared
to regular land animals.

Mostly, every restraunt has a garden in which they take care of their food. If they are ever in
need of fresh produce they always can have it delivered to the restraunt. The fresh, tasteful and
flavorful influences of the food found all around Turkey has influences from the Middle East, Asia, and
Europe. At the end of every meal most of the time the waiters or waitress and sometimes even the
owners may compliment you with either a free dessert of your choice or you may even have the
decision of having Turkish coffee or some Turkish tea.

Money is usually a huge problem for people, either they don’t plan on spending much on their
trips or they are not used to the difference in currency. At the end of the day, you should remember
Turkey is a part of Europe. The total cost for staying in Turkey for a day is about ninety-five dollars per
day you spend in Turkey plus a couple more dollars depending on where you go to eat.

The number one reason lots of tourists travel to turkey is because its hosts lots of historical
artifacts and religious history. Ephesus is one of many popular attractions, Ephesus attracts 2.5 million
tourists around the world per year. One of the first libraries were built In Ephesus, The library of Celsus.
It is an ancient Roman library in Ephesus, Anatolia, which is now part of Selçuk, Turkey. Being built in
honour of the Senator at the time which was, Roman Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus. It was
completed between circa 114–117 A.D. by Celsus' son, Gaius Julius Aquila. It houses the virgin Mary’s
house, and lastly holds the cave of the seven sleepers.

If you love shopping Turkey has the biggest historic and famous “market”, The Grand Bazaar!
The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest markets in the world that is still being used today.
Located in the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The Grand Bazaar covers exactly 61 covered streets and over
4,000 shops in which that attract between from 250,000 visitors and 400,000 visitors on a daily basis.
Before this was a Market though it was used as a stable for horses only after, the fall of the Ottoman
Empire it was made into a market.

Tulips were actually sewn in turkey

More than 130 peaks reach over 9,800 feet (3,000 meters)

You can cross continents from Europe to Asia

Santa Claus is from Turkey

It has one of the world’s biggest and oldest malls

Turkeys Black sea coastline stretches for 1650km same distance from Paris to Berlin.

Tulips were introduced to Europe by Turkish traders in the 16th century

More journalists are imprisoned in turkey than any other country

Turkeys Istanbul tunnel is the world’s second oldest underground railway it began operation in
1875

First ever church to be built was in Antioch, Turkey

Turkey is responsible for 80% of the world’s hazelnut exports.

The Turks introduced coffee to the Europeans

Noah’s Ark can be found on Mt. Ararat (Agri Dagi) on Turkeys Mediterranean Coast

Eurasia tunnel is underneath Bosporus that connects traffic underneath two continents.

King Midas with the golden touch lived in Gordion the capital of Phrigia.

Istanbul is the only city to be built on two continents

Early Christians whom were escaping the romans took shelter in Cappadocia

Alexander the great had cut the goridian knot near Ankara. This knotting technique was and still
is used to today by the Muslims in Turkey to make their prayer mats.

Istanbul was chosen by the European union in 2010 as the European capital of culture.
 Anatolia was the birthplace of historic legends such as King Midas, Homer the poet, and St. pAul
the Apostle