Turkey [antikvár]

Introduction The history of Anatolia, the Turkish homeland, is simply incredible. The world's oldest *city* was discovered here, at^atal Hoyiik in 7500 BC. The Hittite Empire, little known in the west, rivalled that of ancient Egypt, and left behind captivating works of art. The heartland of classical Hellenic culture is actually in Turkey, including cities such as Troy, Pergamum, Ephesus, Miletus and Halicarnassus. Most modem Turkish cities have a Roman past, and all have a Byzantine one. The Seljuk Turkish Empire could boast of people like Omar Khayyam and Cela-leddin Rumi, the poet, mystic and founder of the order of Whirling Dervishes. In the minds of most western visitors the mention of Turkey conjures up vague stereotypical visions of oriental splendour and decadence, of mystery and intrigue, of sultans and harems, of luxury and wickedness. These outdated stereotypes quickly evaporate once the visitor arrives in the country. The Turkish Republic is democratic, rapidly modernising, secular and western-oriented with a vigorous economy. The Turks are mostly friendly to foreign visitors, the cuisine is frequently excellent, the cities are dotted with majestic old buildings, and the countryside is often beautiful like a national park. The old stereotype of oriental decadence originated in the Ottoman Empire, when the entire Middle East and much of North Africa was ruled by the Turkish sultan. The great powers of Western Europe coveted the sultan's lands, and put pressure on him by portraying him in the western press as little better than a monster. This negative image built easily on the notion of the 'terrible Turk' left from the days, in the 17th century, when Ottoman armies threatened Vienna and central Europe. The Turks look back proudly to the times of Mehmet the Conqueror and Siileyman the Magnificent, when the Turkish Empire was rich, powerful and envied by the west. Turks are also fascinated by the depth of history in their homeland, by the progression of kingdoms and empires which fostered a dozen great cultures: Hittite, Hellenic, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman and more. Turks harbour no romantic visions of once again ruling the sultan's vast domains. But with the independence of the Turkic republics of central Asia, Turkey has gained important influence in that region. It is seen as the model for these new countries: a democratic, secular nation-state with a free market economy. Turkey is a big country, and the variety of things to see and do is enormous - ranging from water sports to mountain trekking, archaeology to night-clubbing, river rafting to raki drinking. T\irkey can easily keep you happy for weeks or even months.