- Turkey is located in both Eastern Europe and Western Asia, bordering 8 countries. Its capital is Ankara but the largest city is Istanbul.
- Turkey has a long history dating back to antiquity. It was once home to many ancient civilizations and was later the center of the Ottoman Empire.
- Today, Turkey is a secular republic with over 99% of the population being Muslim. The official language is Turkish and the currency is the Turkish Lira. Turkish culture is influenced by its diverse history and geography.
2. LOCATION The 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.
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4. HISTORY Antiquity 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
11. 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.
12. Hacivat and Karagöz Traditional Turkish Puppets Shadow Play. Developed from religious, moral and educational urge to imitate human actions.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Important Monuments Interior of an early Ottoman mosque in Edirne Interior of the Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
21. 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.
