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Turkey Vacations

Sharing borders with European and Middle Eastern nations, and the once great empires of Georgia and Armenia, Turkey's history has been an extraordinary amalgam of the forces that have shaped world history. The world's earliest civilizations flourished in the once-fertile Tigris and Euphrates river valleys: the Hittites thrived in Central Anatolia; Alexander the Great and his loyal armies blazed south along the Aegean Coast before cutting east in hot pursuit of Persia's King Darius; and the great city of Troy rose and fell many times. The coastal regions absorbed the philosophy, architecture and people of ancient Greece, while the inland regions of the country developed a radically different culture, influenced by early Christianity and, later, the Mongols from the Central Asian steppe. Each of the many cultures that thrived in Turkey over the millennia has left its mark on the country. Today the visitor can choose between visiting temples to Apollo, swimming in crystalline turquoise water, gazing in wonder at Ottoman mosques, or exploring the eastern hinterland, where a nomadic culture thrived until very recently.

The country's regional topographies are as distinct as the cultures that have developed on Turkish soil. Most visitors are familiar with the Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines, where dramatic limestone mountains rise out of deep blue water. The natural beauty of the coast is complimented by the wealth of historical remains that are in evidence. Less familiar to outsiders is the ethereal beauty of the expansive Anatolian plateau. This broad, sparsely populated land is interspersed with mountains and river valleys, boldly colored with raw minerals. A series of lakes in the southwest is surrounded by Selcuk remains, and is home to many species of birds. In central Turkey, Cappadocia's surreal landscape is historically linked to Byzantium: its myriad hillocks carved into elaborately painted chapels. The Black Sea Coast is a lush, humid region, reminiscent of America's Pacific Northwest. Further east, towards Georgia, are the Kasgar Daglari, a rugged mountain range only now becoming popular amongst trekkers. The southern border region is equally rich in historical links: from Tarsus, where Saint Paul was born; to Sanliurfa and Harran, associated with Abraham; to Mardin, and the surrounding Tur Abdin region with its many Syriac Orthodox monasteries.

Turkey's climate varies wildly in the different regions of the country. Istanbul enjoys a temperate European climate with balmy springs and autumns, hot summers, and rather cold winters. The Aegean and Mediterranean coastline is utterly divine for sea and sand lovers, with hot sunny days for most of the year, and pleasantly mild winters. The Black Sea is a misty, damp region often shrouded in atmospheric mists: this climate has led to the booming tea industry that flourishes here. The Central Anatolian plateau confronts visitors with a more extreme climate: fierce cold and biting winds dominate the winters, while the summers can be blisteringly hot. The spring and autumn are a glorious time to travel to this area, when the sweeping expanse is bathed in warm bright light, and there is a soul's solace to be found in the vast spaciousness.

Both Turkey's geography and history have combined to make it a modern nation with a remarkably diverse population. Its present borders encompass lands traditionally inhabited by Greeks, Syrians, Kurds, Georgians, Armenians, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Slavs. This diversity was positively encouraged under the Ottoman Empire, which actively promulgated policies to broaden the Empire's ethnic mix. Travelers to Turkey are often intrigued by the country's ethnic mix. Western Turkey flourished under the Romans. The coastline was rife with trading ports and cities that grew rich and powerful on nautical trade. The city of Byzantium was enlarged and renamed Constantinople. Many of its finest buildings, including Aya Sofya, were built under the auspices of Emperor Justinian (527-565). The city and the Byzantine Empire thrived until the 11th century. At that point, marauders from the east, known as Turks, grew more powerful. The Selcuks were the first organized tribe to attain power in Anatolia, and their reign marked an irreversible eastern shift in Anatolia's history as Islam and Turkish culture spread across the country. Selcuk cities are notable for their exquisite caravanserai and mosques.

After the Selcuks, the Ottomans began to gain control. By the 15th century, the Ottoman Empire was well established and the country entered an extraordinary phase of economic growth, public building, and cultural expansion. The Ottomans actively followed policies to broaden the ethnic mix of the empire, encouraging Slavs, Christians, Italians, Jews, Greeks, Armenians, and others to settle in the city. Like all great empires, the Ottomans went through a phase of growth, expansion, and fantastic power, only to be followed by excess, decadence, and eventual downfall. This sick man of Europe eventually crumbled after World War One, along with its parallel European powers. In this time of global upheaval and universal hunger for democracy, equality, and freedom, the Young Turks grew stronger. At the battle of Gallipoli, a young officer by the name of Mustafa Kemal managed to defeat the British and shock the domestic and international audience by his bravery, confidence and success fueled by sheer determination. This was the beginning of modern Turkey. After the war, Mustafa Kemal became the leader of pro-independence parties and led Turkey to an astonishing new position: secular democracy. His incredible role led to him taking a new name: Ataturk, or "father of the Turks". Ataturk ruled until 1938, and oversaw a breathtaking range of changes in Turkey: emancipation of women, a romanized script, the abolition of many traditional Islamic laws such as polygamy and religious law, and an increasingly stable secular republic. Any ruler as powerful and effective as Ataturk is bound to be questioned and criticized by history. Whatever his many shortcomings, it is a fact that today, most Turks still revere Ataturk, and are proud of him and his role in shaping their national history. Turks are proud of their unique position in the region: a predominantly Islamic populace which is governed by a secular state.

Post-Ataturk Turkey has seen more than its fair share of instability and internal schisms. Today, it is working towards membership with the European Union and is finally putting an end to the years of armed conflict with the Kurds. Turkey has always been a multicultural nation, and still works towards balancing the conflicting desires and needs of the many social, cultural and economic groups that make up this vast country.

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