Turkey

Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly in Anatolia in West Asia, with a smaller part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east; Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south; and the Aegean Sea, Greece, and Bulgaria to the west. Turkey is home to over 85 million people; most are ethnic Turks, while ethnic Kurds are the largest ethnic minority. Officially a secular state, Turkey has a Muslim-majority population. Ankara is Turkey's capital and second-largest city. Istanbul is its largest city, and its economic and financial center, as well as the largest city in Europe. Other major cities include İzmir, Bursa and Antalya.

Some of the key events about Turkey

1915
Widespread deportations and massacres of Armenians occurred during World War I
1923
The Republic of Turkey was established, marking the end of the Ottoman Empire and the beginning of a new era
1923
The Treaty of Lausanne resulted in population exchanges between Greece and Turkey, displacing millions
1934
Women in Turkey gained the right to vote and be elected to parliament, ahead of many European countries
1952
Turkey joined NATO, strengthening its international alliances and security
1960
A military coup overthrew the democratically elected government
1963
Turkey signed an association agreement with the European Economic Community, paving the way for closer ties with Europe
1974
The Bosphorus Bridge was opened, connecting Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul
1974
Turkey invaded Cyprus, leading to the island's division
1980
Another military coup took place, resulting in widespread human rights violations
1983
Turkey returned to civilian rule after a period of military governance, restoring democracy
1984
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) insurgency began, leading to decades of conflict
1999
A devastating earthquake struck northwestern Turkey, killing over 17,000 people
2004
Turkey was officially recognized as a candidate for full membership to the European Union
2013
The Marmaray tunnel was opened, creating an undersea rail link between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul
2013
The Gezi Park protests erupted, leading to violent clashes between protesters and police
2016
A failed coup attempt resulted in hundreds of deaths and subsequent purges
2018
Istanbul New Airport was inaugurated, becoming one of the world's largest airports
2023
Turkey celebrated its centennial as a republic, marking 100 years of independence and modernization
2023
Two major earthquakes struck southeastern Turkey, causing widespread destruction and over 50,000 deaths

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