History

People, places and events from the long history of Anatolia, from the ancient world to the Ottomans and the Republic.

The One Essential Food: Bread

Tere is one food without which no meal is complete, in Turkey at any rate. That is bread, a food we know…
Divrigi: Turkish Province of Sivas

One of the earliest Turkish principalities in Anatolia, the Mengucek rulers bore the titles of sah and melik (shah and king respectively).…
An Ancient Center of Prophecy: Didyma’s Temple of Apollo

The town of Didim is one of the prettiest in Turkey’s southwestern province of Aydin. As you enter the seaside town an…
A 700-Year-Old Village: Cumalikizik

In the northern foothills of Mount Uludag, 15 km from Bursa, is the picturesque village of Cumalikizik. Set amongst chestnut and fig…
The Oldest Map of the World: Catalhoyuk Cave Painting

Date: 6200 BCLocation: Konya, Turkey The human activity of graphically translating one’s perception of his world is now generally recognized as a…
Discovering the Wonders of Birgi

Once you have made the acquaintance of provincial Turkey, you will be hooked. You will fall asleep dreaming of Asia Minor’s hidden…
Enjoy the Moroccan Summer

Summer is warm in Marrakech, but there are ways to get around the heat – and with most properties in low season,…
Gilgamesh’s Quest for Immortality Found in Turkey

Bilkent University Faculty of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Ebru Erbay has made a very important reconnaissance with her latest research and it…
The Beautiful Cats from Van in Turkey

Every domestic animal has a different characteristic. One of the cats attracting human beings’ attention for centuries, having silky white fur, different…
Turkey’s National Shadow Theater: Hacivat & Karagoz

(Turkish: Black Eyes, or Gypsy), type of Turkish shadow play, named for its stock hero, Karagoz. The comical plays are improvised from…
The Discovery of AE2-AWW1 Submarine

The friendship between Turkey and Australia was strengthened by the incongruous conflict between these two nations during the so-called Great War of…
The History of Istanbul

History Timeline of Istanbul Pre-Historic Era 7000 BC Neolithic fishing settlements in Kadikoy, Pendik & Yarimburgaz. Byzantium 660 BC – 196 AD…
The Women Through the History of Anatolia, Turkey

Through the history of Anatolia, Turkey; women have always been on top of the stage as a goddess, productive laborer, a sovereign…
Philately in Turkey

Postage stamps are one of the most important ways of broadcasting a country’s image. Carried by letters from their country of the…
A Turkish Drink for Winter Nights: Boza

A sound echoing in the streets reminds us of cold winter nights in our childhood. With their familiar call of ‘Boza!’ street…
Turkish Flag & the National Anthem

As the Turkish Republic was founded on the heritage of the Ottoman Empire, many things from that time such as the Turkish…
Turkish Baklava

Of all Turkey’s delicious sweet confections, the most famous one is baklava. This exquisitely flavored pastry has been made in Anatolia for…
The Bitter Coffee of Southeastern Turkey: Mirra

If any aroma were especially associated with the East it would be that of coffee. In coffee a journey westwards over the…
Turkish Language

Before going deep down in its history and alphabet; the standard blow-your-mind for the Turkish Language example is: Afyonkarahisarlilastiramadiklarimizdanmisiniz? (45 characters) which…
The Noah’s Pudding: Asure

Asure has venerable associations, being ascribed to the times of Noah’s Flood. It is said to have been invented after the Ark…
The Story of Turkish Food

“Do not dismiss the dish saying that it is just, simply food. The blessed thing is an entire civilization in itself!” Abdulhak…
Roman Gladiators in Ephesos Were on a Vegetable Diet

The analysis made on Roman gladiators bones buried in Ephesus shows that they might have been vegetarians, according to the news published…
Vast Underground City Found in Nevsehir, Cappadocia Turkey

Since the Bronze Age that the first deadly weapons hammered out until these days; heaps of legions passed over Anatolia and moved…
Islam and Turkey

The secular nature of the Turkish state is enshrined in its constitution and discrimination on religious grounds is not acceptable. Nevertheless, the…