A History of Turkey($21.99Value)

Description

Spanning millennia from the dawn of civilization to the turbulent politics of the 21st century, this comprehensive history brings to life the epic story of the land and people of Turkey. The narrative begins in the mists of prehistory, exploring Anatolia as a cradle of civilization with world-altering sites like Göbekli Tepe and Çatalhöyük. It chronicles the rise and fall of the great ancient empires—the formidable Hittites, the Phrygians of the mythical King Midas, and the vibrant Greek city-states of the Ionian coast that birthed Western philosophy before clashing with the mighty Persian Empire. The book traces Anatolia’s long and pivotal role as a heartland of the Roman and Byzantine Empires, a center of early Christianity that hosted the first ecumenical councils. This world is irrevocably changed by the arrival of the Turks from Central Asia. From the decisive Battle of Manzikert to the flourishing of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum in Konya, the narrative details the gradual Turkification and Islamization of the peninsula, a process tempered by the dual threats of the Crusades from the West and the Mongol invasions from the East. From the ashes of the Seljuk state emerges one of history’s most enduring and powerful empires: the Ottomans. This account follows their meteoric rise from a small frontier principality to a global power whose dominion stretched across three continents. Relive the monumental conquest of Constantinople by Mehmed the Conqueror, the glorious golden age under Süleyman the Magnificent, and the intricate workings of the sophisticated Ottoman state, from the power struggles of the Topkapı Palace to the disciplined might of the elite Janissary corps. The narrative then navigates the empire's long and complex period of stagnation and decline, exploring the geopolitical "Eastern Question" and the frantic 19th-century reform movements that sought to modernize the state. The story culminates in the catastrophic decision to enter World War I, the collapse of the 600-year-old empire, and the subsequent occupation of the Turkish homeland. Amidst the ruins, a new national consciousness is forged, leading to the heroic and desperate Turkish War of Independence, led by the visionary general Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The final section is dedicated to the modern Turkish Republic, born from the ashes of empire in 1923. It details Atatürk’s radical and sweeping revolution to create a secular, modern, and Western-oriented nation-state. The book then traces Turkey's tumultuous journey through the 20th century: its strategic role as a key NATO ally during the Cold War, its struggles with democracy marked by periods of political instability and military interventions, and the profound economic and social changes that reshaped its society. The history concludes by examining the rise of political Islam and the transformative era of the AKP under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, bringing readers up to date on the complex challenges and pivotal role of contemporary Turkey at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.