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Turkey 533-
Asia, history of
Greece, ancient
Ottoman empire
Roman empire
Wonders
of the ancient worldTuRkey lies in both Asia and europe. Today,
it is on the verge of becoming part of modern
europe, yet retains many elements of its Asian
history. Western Turkey was an important part of
both the Greek and Roman worlds. The invasion
of Turkish nomads (Ottomans) from the east in
the 15th century brought the islamic religion and
the nomadic culture of Central Asia. Turkey
became a republic in 1923 and rapidly entered the
20th century. islam is no longer the state religion,
although it is widely practiced. A wide range of
manufacturing and textile industries have
strengthened Turkey’s growing economic links
with europe. With its warm climate and
fertile soils, Turkey is able to
produce all its own food—even
in the arid southeast, huge
dams on the euphrates River
are used to water the land.
The west and south coasts
are visited by increasing
numbers of tourists.isTAnbul
Turkey’s largest city and seaport straddles the continents of
europe and Asia, which are separated by
the bosporus strait. Founded by
Greeks in the 8th century bce,
later to become capital of
the eastern Roman
empire, istanbul fell to
the Ottoman Turks in- The Ottomans
beautified the capital
with mosques and
built the sumptuous
Topkapi Palace, the
home of the sultan and
his many wives. Today,
istanbul is a sprawling,
bustling city with a population
of more than 14 million.
TuRkish TOuRism
Turkey’s warm climate, beautiful
coastline, and rich history attract
many tourists from northern europe.
most tourists travel to the Aegean
and mediterranean coasts, where
picturesque harbors, such as bodrum
(above), are accessible to beautiful
beaches. There are some worries that
the fast pace of development is spoiling
the landscape.Turkey lies at the western edge
of Asia and extends into the
southeastern tip of europe. it is
bounded on three sides by the black,
mediterranean, and Aegean seas.mARkeT PROduCe
street markets are an important
part of every Turkish town. stalls
sell a variety of products, from
olives, spices, and vegetables, to
clothing and household goods.
This woman is wearing traditional
Turkish clothes—loose, baggy pants
and a printed headscarf—which
are still widely worn, especially in
the countryside.AnkARA
Ankara became the capital
of the new Turkish republic in
1923—a break with the Ottoman
past. Ankara’s history dates back
to the 2nd millennium bce. it was
an important Ottoman cultural
and commercial center, located on
the main trade routes. Today,
the modern city center is the
headquarters of the government.ClAssiCAl Ruins
The Aegean coast was colonized by Greeks by
the 7th century bce, and western Turkey was an
important part of the Greek and subsequently
the Roman worlds. many well-preserved
classical cities attract both archaeologists and
tourists to Turkey. ephesus was the home of
the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven
wonders of the ancient world.The Library of Celsus at Ephesus
was built in the 2nd century ce for
a Roman consul.Bodrum’s
Saint Peter’s
castle (right) is a
fine example of
Crusader architecture.US_533_Turkey_1.indd 533 09/02/16 5:28 pm