Turkey, formally known as the Republic of Turkey, is a relatively large country located in Asia Minor whose territory lies in two continents, Asia and Europe. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Black Sea. The border between the continent of Europe and the continent of Asia is considered to run through the Bosporus Strait which connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. The countries which border on Turkey are Greece and Bulgaria on the west, Georgia and Armenia on the north, Iran on the east, and Syria on the south.
The modern capital of Turkey is Ankara, but the largest city and traditional capital is Istanbul. Istanbul was known historically as Constantinople. Istanbul spans the Bosporus, having districts on the European side and the Asian side which are connected by bridges and ferries. Ankara is the second largest city, followed by Izmir.
The population of Turkey is 71,892,808 (July 2008 estimated). The predominant languages spoken in Turkey are Turkish (the official language), Kurdish, and Arabic. Islam is the religion of over 99% of the population. Ethnically, the population is composed of Turks (80%), and Kurds (20%).
Several ancient civilizations, such as the Hittites, Phygians and Lydians, lived in the territory which is now Turkey, as well as the Ancient Greeks. Trade routes from Asia passed through Turkey to the Mediterranean trading cities. Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire for more than 1,000 years, from the 4th century under the Roman emperor Constantine to the 15th century, falling in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks, whose empire subsequently covered a vast area of Asia and Europe for 400 years until after World War I in the early 20th century. Mustafa Kamal ( known as “Father of the Turks,” or “Ataturk,” ) founded modern Turkey from the Anatolian portion of the remains of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, instituting social, political, and legal reforms.
The form of government is a republican parliamentary democracy. There is a president, a prime minister, and a council of ministers. The legislature is the unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and there is a system of civil and military courts. The current government is secular. The military establishment plays a strong role in the administration, and its influence has periodically been challenged by the Islamic-oriented political parties.
Turkey’s geographic location gives it a role of strategic importance as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and as a crossroads of trade from Central Asia to Western Europe, particularly for the transport of petroleum from the Caspian Sea area, and industrial products such as textiles and clothing, automotives, and electronics.
The currency is the Turkish lira (TRY).
Web Sites
- U.S. Department of State
- Embassy of Turkey
- Republic of Turkey: Ministry of Culture and Tourism
- BBC
- Library of Congress
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