Turkey and Modernity
Jake Shawver
Cultural Anthropology
Elmhurst College Fall 2012
Turkey and Modernity Turkey has always historically been a region of economic and/or military importance. Whether it was under Roman occupation, or as the independent Ottomans, this region has always been one of vast importance, and this trend has continued into the modern era. Starting with the earliest traces of civilization and extending well beyond the democratic reforms of their beloved commander Ataturk (which literally means father of the Turks), Turkey has always historically fought to keep its global economic status. Many, if not all, of the worlds super powers, past and present, have fought to obtain this region, and it has remained fairly autonomous throughout History. To better understand this region and its progression towards a democratic state, one must first understand the history of this powerful nation.
An Abridged History of Turkey As earlier stated, Turkey has long been a nation of vast regional importance. Among the many earliest inhabitants of this land were: the Hittites, the Greeks, the Persians, the Romans, as well as many others. The Roman Emperor Constantine the Great changed the name of the city of Byzantium (modern day Istanbul) to Constantinople and made it his new Eastern Roman capital. This movement caused a massive social and economic schism, and the great Roman Empire became two separate halves. Constantinople, shortly thereafter, became the center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which officially separated from Roman Catholicism in 1054 C.E. when the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other (Mango). According to Carl Findley, a renowned historian of the Middle East, “...the Turks are a Ural-Altaic people who emerged from the plains between the Ural Mountains in Europe and the Altay Mountains in Asia.” Important here is the European cultural roots, which will be of more importance during the 20th century. Findley continues, “the most
Cultural Anthropology
Elmhurst College Fall 2012
Turkey and Modernity Turkey has always historically been a region of economic and/or military importance. Whether it was under Roman occupation, or as the independent Ottomans, this region has always been one of vast importance, and this trend has continued into the modern era. Starting with the earliest traces of civilization and extending well beyond the democratic reforms of their beloved commander Ataturk (which literally means father of the Turks), Turkey has always historically fought to keep its global economic status. Many, if not all, of the worlds super powers, past and present, have fought to obtain this region, and it has remained fairly autonomous throughout History. To better understand this region and its progression towards a democratic state, one must first understand the history of this powerful nation.
An Abridged History of Turkey As earlier stated, Turkey has long been a nation of vast regional importance. Among the many earliest inhabitants of this land were: the Hittites, the Greeks, the Persians, the Romans, as well as many others. The Roman Emperor Constantine the Great changed the name of the city of Byzantium (modern day Istanbul) to Constantinople and made it his new Eastern Roman capital. This movement caused a massive social and economic schism, and the great Roman Empire became two separate halves. Constantinople, shortly thereafter, became the center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which officially separated from Roman Catholicism in 1054 C.E. when the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other (Mango). According to Carl Findley, a renowned historian of the Middle East, “...the Turks are a Ural-Altaic people who emerged from the plains between the Ural Mountains in Europe and the Altay Mountains in Asia.” Important here is the European cultural roots, which will be of more importance during the 20th century. Findley continues, “the most
Cited: Arvanitopoulos, Constantine. "Turkey and the Identity of Europe." Harvard International Review. N.p., 6 Jan. 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2012. http://hir.harvard.edu/turkey-and-the-identity-europe. Findley, Carter V. “Preface and Introduction.” The Turks in World History. New York: Oxford UP, 2005. Print. Finkel, Caroline. "Sections from chapters 1, 7, 10 and 16." Osman 's Dream: the History of the Ottoman Empire. New York: Basic, 2007. Print. Mango, Andrew. “Sections from chapters 1, 5, and 8.” Ataturk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey. Woodstock, NY: Overlook, 2000. Print.