10 interesting facts about Turkey – countries with amazing history and culture

Turkey is a state that for the most part is located in Asia, and only the edge of the country ended up in Europe. Thanks to its rich history, climate, geography, culture, topography and location, modern Turkey has become one of the most popular tourist destinations.

However, Turkey is not only magnificent beaches and resorts, Istanbul and the Blue Mosque, thermal springs and monasteries. It has its secrets and mysteries that cannot be comprehended in a week’s stay.

She has her own rich culture, which tourists know only superficially. But this is one of the most entertaining countries in the world. In this article, we will look at 10 interesting facts about Turkey.

10 The modern state was formed in 1923 as a result of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire

Modern Turkey, which is familiar to the world, was formed only in 1923. This is the result of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Previously, there was a large state, which at the peak of its power occupied vast territories. Russia was constantly at war with her, because of a serious threat to the south.

But over time, the crisis worsened, then the Ottoman Empire lost the First World War. And this was followed by the Turkish national liberation wars, the monarchy was abolished, and a new Turkish national state was created in the territories of Thrace, Asia Minor and the Armenian Highlands.

9. The country is divided into 81

Administratively, Turkey is divided into 81 provinces.. Ile is a province, they used to use the word “vilayet”.

Il, in turn, is divided into ilche, which means “districts”. There are about 923 of them in the country. Some ilche are divided into budjaks (volosts), but not always.

Most often, or combined into regions to simplify the presentation of statistical data. There are only seven of them, but this is not considered an official administrative division.

8. Military service from 3 to 15 months

The Turkish army is mainly completed by conscription. All male citizens from 20 to 41 years old are called. They must serve for a period of 3 to 15 months..

After being discharged from the army, a person remains liable for military service until the age of 45. If suddenly a citizen does not want to carry out military duties, then he can pay the country an amount of 16-17 thousand liras, after which he is considered released from service.

During hostilities, Turkish law allows the recruitment of men from 16 to 60 years old and women from 20 to 46 years old who are able to hold weapons in their hands.

7. Washed by four seas

Turkey is considered a maritime country. Its coast stretched for 7000 kilometers. It is washed by 4 seas: Black, Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean.

The Black Sea is considered the northernmost sea here. It is cooler than others, and also has a reduced salinity.

The Sea of ​​Marmara is located between the Black and the Aegean, separated from the others by two straits: the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.

The Aegean Sea is more like a Mediterranean basin. It is very clean and extremely salty. And the Mediterranean is considered the warmest of those washing Turkey.

6. Constantinople (now Istanbul) was the capital of four empires

Constantinople was the name of Istanbul until 1930. This is a very ancient city. First, in 330, it became the capital of the Roman Empire, although at the time its official name was “New rome».

But in 395, the Roman Empire is divided into two: Western and Eastern Roman Empires. Constantinople remains the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, traditionally referred to as the Byzantine Empire.

In 1204, the Knights of the Fourth Crusade captured Constantinople and almost completely destroyed it. After that, the city is considered the capital of the Latin Empire. It remained a major trading city, but then gradually fell into decay.

In 1453 it was captured again, this time by the Turks. From that moment on, it became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

5. Chatal Huyuk is one of the oldest settlements in the world.

Chatal Huyuk, Chatal Huyuk, Chatalhoyuk – this is the whole name of a large settlement of the Neolithic era. The title translates as “fork mound“. It is a large and remarkably well-preserved settlement whose earliest known cultural layer dates back to 7400 BC.

Scientists believe that the inhabitants left this place before 5600 BC. However, it is still unknown why people chose this area.

Assumptions about the convenience of farming are shattered by finds that testify to a hunting-gathering culture. The reasons that prompted residents to leave are also unknown.

4. Kurds are now fighting for independence in the country.

Kurds are an ethnic group occupying a small territory on the borders of four states: Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. Today they are the largest ethnic group that does not have its own state.

The turning point in their struggle for independence is the guerrilla war with Iraq, after which they managed to achieve cultural privileges, territorial autonomy and a quota in the government.

Such concessions in their direction convinced the Kurds of the need to do the same with other countries. So to this day, they are fighting for independence with Turkey.

3. Complex system of Arabic names before 1934

According to tradition, Arabic names are very complex and compound. They can contain not only a personal name, but also a patronymic, nickname, title, profession, place of birth, and so on. So, the name carries a large amount of information at once.

Thanks to the naming system, pedigree, status in society, beliefs and even personal qualities immediately become clear.. Interestingly, this only applies to male names, female names remain fairly simple.

Since 1934, this system has become optional. In modern Turkey, few people from the population follow this tradition.

2. There are 7 Churches of the Apocalypse in the country

7 churches of the Apocalypse, 7 churches of early Christianity and 7 churches of Asia – This is the same. These are unique places that became known from the Revelations of John the Theologian.

Ephesus (Seljuk) – known because of the false apostles. Smyrna (Izmir) – suffered from the Jews, who called themselves that, but they were not. Pergamon (Bergama) – stands on the site of the throne of Satan. Thyatira (Akhisara) – suffered from the wife of the Israeli king Ahab.

Sardis (Salihly) is a church that must remember what it saw and heard (according to the Revelations of John the Theologian). Philadelphia (Alashehir) is the church that God loved. And the last Laodicea (Denizli) – according to John the Theologian: the main problem is “neither cold nor hot.”

1. Two wonders of the world out of seven

Since Turkey has a huge historical and cultural heritage, it is not surprising that two Wonders of the World are located on its territory..

The first is the temple of Artemis of Ephesus. In the city of Ephesus, the inhabitants decided to build the greatest temple for their patroness Artemis. Construction was carried out for 120 years, it was magnificent. Only less than 100 years later, one of the inhabitants burned it to perpetuate his name. The building was rebuilt and existed for another 600 years.

Second – Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, which the king of the city of Halicarnassus built as his tomb. It was a truly beautiful tomb, but for a long time the forces of nature participated in its destruction, and the crusaders finished this terrible deed.