TURKEY facts about Turkey history did you know that... climate of Turkey maps of Turkey tips for travellers people and mentality pictures of Turkey wonders of Turkey DESTINATIONS Istanbul Antalya Izmir Alanya Bodrum Kusadasi Marmaris Side Belek Cesme Dalaman Dalyan Fethiye History of Turkey Turkey's first known human inhabitants appeared in the Mediterranean region as early as 7500 BC, and the cycles of empire building, flexing, flailing and crumbling didn't take long to kick in. The first great civilisation was that of the Hittites, who worshipped a sun goddess and a storm god. The Hittites dominated Anatolia from the Middle Bronze Age (1900-1600 BC), clashing with Egypt under the great Ramses II and capturing Syria, but by the time Achaean Greeks attacked Troy in 1250 BC, the Hittite machine was creaking. A massive invasion of 'sea peoples' from Greek islands put untenable pressure on the Hittites and a jumble of smaller kingdoms played at border bending until Cyrus, emperor of Persia (550-530 BC) swept into Anatolia from the east. The Persians were booted out by Alexander the Great, who conquered the entire Middle East from Greece to India around 330 BC. After Alexander's death his generals squabbled over the spoils and civil war was the norm until the Galatians (Celts) established a capital at Ankara in 279 BC, bedding down comfortably with the Seleucid, Pontic, Pergamum and Armenian kingdoms. Roman rule brought relative peace and prosperity for almost three centuries, providing perfect conditions for the spread of Christianity. The Roman Empire weakened from around 250 AD until Constantine reunited it in 324. He oversaw the building of a new capital, the great city which came to be called Constantinople. Justinian (527-65) brought the eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire to its greatest strength, reconquering Italy, the Balkans, Anatolia and North Africa, but five years after his death, Muhammed was born in Mecca and the scene was set for one of history's most astounding tales. Sixty years after Mohammed heard the voice of God, and 50 years after his ignominious flight from Mecca, the armies of Islam were threatening the walls of Constantinople (669-78), having conquered everything and everybody from there to Mecca, plus Persia and Egypt. The Islamic dynasties which emerged after Mohammed challenged the power and status of Byzantium from this time, but the Great Seljuk Turkish Empire of the 11th century was the first to rule what is now Turkey, Iran and Iraq. The Seljuks were shaken by the Crusades and overrun by Mongol hordes, but they hung onto power until the vigorous, ambitious Ottomans came along. The Ottoman Empire began as the banding together of late 13th century Turkish warriors fleeing the Mongols. By 1453 the Ottomans under Mehmet the Conqueror were strong enough to take Constantinople. Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (1520-66) oversaw the apogee of the empire: beautifying Constantinople, rebuilding Jerusalem and expanding the Ottomap to the gates of Vienna. But few of the sultans succeeding Suleyman were capable of great rule and the Ottoman Empire's long, celebrated decline had begun by 1585. By the 19th century, decline and misrule made ethnic nationalism very appealing. The subject peoples of the Ottoman Empire revolted, often with the direct encouragement and assistance of European powers. After bitter fighting in 1832, the Kingdom of Greece was formed; the Serbs, Bulgarians, Rumanians, Albanians, Armenians and Arabs would all seek independence soon after. The European powers hovered vulture-like over the disintegrating empire, while within Turkey various disastrous attempts to revivify the country were undone by the unfortunate decision to side with Germany in WWI. In 1918, the victorious Allies set to carving up Turkey. It didn't look good. At this point Ottoman general Mustafa Kemal began to organise resistance, sure that a new government must seize the fate of Turkey for the Turkish people. When Greece invaded Smyrna and began pushing east, the Turks were shocked then galvanised into action. The War of Independence lasted 1920-22, ending in a bitterly won Turkish victory and the abolition of the sultanate. Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk or Father Turk) undertook the job of completely remaking Turkish society. By the time he died in 1938, a constitution had been adopted, polygamy abolished and the fez, mark of Ottoman backwardness, was prohibited. Islam was removed as the state religion, Constantinople became Istanbul and women obtained the right to vote. Ataturk remains a true hero in Turkey. 7500 BC First Stone age settlements at Catalhoyuk 1900-1300 BC Hittite Empire with Hattusas as capital, contemporary with ancient Egypt and Babylon 1250 BC The Trojan war and the fall of Troy 1200-700 BC Migration of Greeks to Aegean coastal regions. Establishment of the Phrygian, Ionian, Lycian, Lydian, Carian and Pamphylian Kingdoms. The East of Turkey is the home of the Urartians 700 BC Homer is born in Izmir (Smyrna). Aegean Hellenism begins 546 BC Cyrus the Great leads the Persians into Anatolia 334 BC Alexander the Great drives out the Persians 130 BC The Romans incorporate Anatolia as the province of Asia, controlled from Ephesus (Efes) 40 BC Antioch sees the marriage of Antony and Cleopatra 47-57 AD St. Paul spreads Christianity and a community at Antioch is established 313 Roman Empire adopts Christianity 330 Constantine lays out the boundaries of his new capital, Constantinople 527-65 Glory of Byzantium under Justinian 638-718 Muslim Arabs besiege Constantinople 1054 Greek and Roman Churches split over theology 1071-1243 Rise and rule of the Selcuk Turks in Anatolia, Konya is their capital 1096-1204 The Crusades, marking the beginning of the end for Byzantium, a fascinating period in Byzantine history 1288 Ottoman Empire appears in Bursa 1453 The fall of Constantinople - the birth of Istanbul 1520-66 Suleyman the Magnificent sits on the Ottoman throne controlling a huge and powerful empire 1682-1725 Peter the Great initiates Russo-Turkish rivalry 1854 Crimean war 1909 Abdul Hamid, the last of an unbroken line of Ottoman sultans is deposed 1914 Turkey allies with Germany in the first world war 1915 Gallipoli 1919 Ataturk leads resistance to the allied plan to carve up Turkey 1923 Foundation of the modern Republic of Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Many things happen all at once 1938 Ataturk dies in Istanbul's Dolmabahce palace 1939-45 Turkey manages to remain neutral during the second world war 1946 Charter membership of the UN 1952 Turkey joins NATO 1960 Military coup, successive governments ineffective 1964 Associate member status of EU 1974 Cyprus crisis 1980 Kanan Evren leads military coup. 3 years of military government 1983 Turgut Ozal elected prime Minister 1985-90 Full EU membership for Turkey impeded by Cypriot issue and questions over human rights record 1991-93 Suleyman Demirel elected Prime Minister, inflation at 70% 1993-96 Demirel President, Tansu Ciller Prime Minister, Turkey joins EU Customs Union 1997-98 5 attempts at forming coalition governments, Islamic Welfare party disbanded, reforms as Virtue and is the largest single party in parliament. Military intervenes to prevent Islamicists forming governments. 75th Anniversary of the Turkish Republic (and 15th of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) celebrated.