History of Turkey | How Old is Turkey?

When Did People Start Living in Turkey?

Turkey occupies the position of Anatolia. Anatolia is a part of the world that has a tremendous amount of history. It is obvious that humans were living in Anatolia during the Stone Age. Major expeditions have uncovered a wide variety of artifacts in the area, and many of them have been placed in the museum of Ankara. In addition, Bronze Age civilization started to appear in the area approximately 3000 years ago. There are a lot of archaeological exhibits that are still uncovering artifacts, particularly those in Burdur. It is obvious that there was once a large civilization located near Antalya, although this is still something that is being actively examined.

What Was the First Empire To Occupy Turkey?

Because of the strategic location of the country between Europe and Asia, there have been several empires that have risen and fallen in the local area. The very first major Empire to conquer the area was the Roman Empire, which did so during the second century BC. Eventually, the Roman Empire would fall, and there were a few conquerors that would rise from the ashes. The next major empire to control Turkey was the Persian Empire. Persia grew significantly in strength, and it extended a very large sphere of influence. Eventually, the Persian Empire would fall, particularly during the Greco-Persian wars. This was a time of great upheaval on the Anatolian Peninsula, and a completely new civilization would rise as a result.

When Did the Ottoman Empire Form?

There were several other major empires that would control Anatolia. For example, the Byzantine Empire played a significant role in the history of Turkey, particularly after the fall of the Greeks and Persians. Then, the Seljuk Empire would also control the area for several centuries, but they would fall as well. Eventually, the Ottoman Empire took over. It was a time of great stability in Turkey, and the Ottoman Empire expanded to be one of the largest empires in the world.

Eventually, the Ottoman Empire would fall as well. The Ottoman Empire was defeated, and it was dissolved at the end of World War 1. In 1920, the Allied Powers would eventually divide the empire between Britain, Italy, and Greece. As a result, the Republic of Turkey would form after that.

When Did the Republic of Turkey Form?

The Turkish war of independence began almost immediately after the end of World War II. By 1922, all occupying armies had been expelled from Anatolia. A new parliament was formed in its wake, and ottoman rule, which had lasted for more than six hundred years, was ended. The Republic of Turkey was the official successor state of the Ottoman Empire, and it was formed in 1923. The new capital of Turkey would be Ankara, and that is the state that still exists to this day. There have been some questions about the autonomy of the Turkish people, but it is a part of NATO.