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Turkey
 
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Turkey Factfile
Geography
The Republic of Turkey is located in South Eastern Europe (the area west of the Bosporus) and South Western Asia. Turkey is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, Greece, Bulgaria, the Black Sea, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Ankara is the capital city. Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and largest port. Other cities include Adana, Izmir and Konya. Turkey can be divided into seven geographical regions: the Mediterranean Region, Aegean Region, Marmara Region, Black Sea Region, Central Anatolia Region, Eastern Anatolia Region and the South Eastern Anatolia Region.
Population
The population of the Republic of Turkey was 68,893,918 in 2004. Eighty percent of the population is Turkish and twenty percent of the population is Kurdish.
Religion
Almost all of the Turkish population is Muslim - mostly Sunni Muslim. A very small minority (0.2%) of the people in the Republic of Turkey are Christians and Jews.
currency
The unit of currency is the Turkish Lira. On 1 Jan 2005 the currency was rebased so that 1 million Lira = 1 new Lira. 1 Lira equals 100 Kurus in the new currency. This makes handling financial affairs in Turkey far simpler!
Holidays
Religious holy days include the Feast of Ramazan (Ramadan) and the Feast of the Sacrifice.

Holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), National Sovereignty & Children's Day (23 April), Ataturk's Commemoration & Youth and Sports Day (19 May), Victory Day (30 August) and Republic Day (29 October 1923).
economy
Turkey's agricultural sector employs around forty percent of the working population. Crops are wheat, barley, corn, beans, chickpeas, lentils, onions, peas, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, tomatoes, olives, citrus fruits, cherries, grapes, melons, bananas, hazelnuts, tea, tobacco and cotton. Livestock is reared for meat and dairy products. Other primary industries are fishing and mining.

The textiles and clothing industries are important to the Turkish economy. Other industries include paper, glass, ceramics, vehicles (cars, buses and trucks), construction, cement, iron and steel, fertilisers and petrochemicals.

The economy is expected to have expanded by 7.9 percent in 2004 and 5 percent growth is projected for 2005.
food
Turkish cuisine is a combination of Middle Eastern food (kebabs, pitta bread and houmous) and Mediterranean food, (tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and grilled meat). Hot peppers, herbs (mint, parsley, dill, cumin) and yoghurt are important ingredients in Turkish cuisine. Bread is part of the Turkish daily diet.

A "meze" consisting of a number of small dishes may be served before the main course of a meal. These include slices of melon, feta cheese, pickles, nuts and small portions of fish, salads and vegetables.

Soups (fish, rice, lentil), rice and wheat dishes (pilaf), meats (lamb, mutton, veal, poultry) and seafood (anchovies, sardines, mackerel, octopus, mussels) are prepared with vegetables (aubergines, artichokes, beans, beetroot, chard, chick peas, cucumbers, mushrooms, onions, peppers, spinach, tomatoes). Stuffed vegetables (dolmas and sarma), meatballs and egg dishes are popular. The kebab, marinated lamb roasted on a spit, is a Turkish favourite.

Raki, an anise flavoured spirit, is the national drink. "Boza", another traditional alcoholic drink is made from fermented wheat berries. Beer, wines and fruit juices are produced. "Turkish" coffee is thick and black and tea is prepared over boiling water and served in small glasses.
history
Turkey (Anatolia or Asia Minor) has been the home of many civilisations. Ancient people who lived in the area include the Hittites, Phrygians and Lydians. The Persians ruled between 545-383 BC, followed by the Greeks (333-30BC) and the Romans (30BC-395 AD).

In 330 AD the Roman emperor Constantine moved his capital to Byzantium - a Greek city - dividing the Roman Empire into two. Byzantium was renamed Constantinople becoming the capital of the Christian Empire. The "Byzantine Empire" lasted until 1453.

In the eleventh century Seljuk Turks from central Asia moved into Turkey (Anatolia). Their most famous leader, Osman (1259 - 1326), founded the Osmanli or "Ottoman" dynasty. The Ottoman Empire superseded the Byzantine Empire and Constantinople became Istanbul. With the change in name came a change in religion and the centre of Christianity became Islamic.

The Ottoman Empire lasted until 1923. During this time the Empire ruled parts of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Countries under its control included Egypt, Libya, Cyprus, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Armenia. European countries which came under Ottoman rule included Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania.

In 1526 the Ottoman army occupied Buda in Hungary. By 1683 the Ottomans had moved further into Europe and tried to take Vienna (Austria) but were defeated by the King of Poland, John III (Jan Sobieski). The Turks were finally driven out of Hungary in 1686 by the Austrian, Hungarian and Polish armies.

In the eighteenth century the Ottoman Empire fought a number of wars against European countries and Russia. The most well remembered war of the mid nineteenth century was the Crimean War (1845-1856) when Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire fought against expansionist Russia.

Twenty years later the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) saw the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. However Bulgaria lost territory to the Turks and in 1912 Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria attacked the Ottomans (the First Balkan War) gaining land from the Ottoman Empire. In the Second Balkan War (1913) Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania fought against Bulgaria winning territory for Greece and Serbia.

Unrest in the Balkans contributed towards the First World War. During the War the Ottoman Empire allied itself with Germany and Austria-Hungary. At the end of the War Ottoman territory was greatly reduced.

Ottoman rule ended in 1922 and Turkey was formed in 1923. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (Father of the Turks) became the President of the Republic of Turkey.

Turkey stayed out of the Second World War (1939-45) until 1945 and in the same year joined the United Nations. Turkey became a member of NATO in 1952.

In 1963 fighting broke out in Cyprus between the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot population. Just over a decade later, a coup encouraged by the Greek military junta, led to Turkish forces invading Cyprus. In 1983 the Turkish Cypriot leader proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus separate from the south although this separation was only recognised by Turkey.

Turkey is an Associate Member of the EU and is working towards full EU membership.
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