9781422284452

From the center of Antalya the fluted minaret, Yivli Minare, overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the Taurus Mountains. Most of the people of Turkey follow Islam. However, unlike other countries in the Middle East region in which the governments impose Islamic laws, the Republic of Turkey has charted a secular course.

F or many people, the land of Turkey conjures up images of powerful sultans , their lavish palaces full of intrigue, and of fearsome warriors wielding large, curved swords. Such power- ful leaders and warriors indeed existed. However, they suggest little more about the true nature of this fascinating nation than a close- up photo of a boxing match or a graphic painting of a hand-to-hand Civil War battle would suggest about America. The people of Turkey today have much in common with the people of the United States. At the same time, they are unique. They have a fascinating history, and because of their location at the crossroads of dissimilar civiliza- tions, they hold a very special place in the world community. The Republic of Turkey—Türkiye Cumhuriyeti—is composed largely of a massive peninsula called Anatolia, which dominates the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea. The country con- nects two continents: Asia and Europe. History has shown that its location, while vital to those interested in trade and conquest, poses unavoidable complications for its residents. Turkey’s Place in the World

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