- 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.