A comprehensive overview of the history of Turkey ranging from the earliest Neolithic civilizations, to the establishment of the Republic in 1923, to the present-day tenure of President Erdogan.

For travelers or students looking for the story behind the evolution of modern-day Turkey, this informative guide traces this country's history and culture from ancient times through the present day. The first half of this book surveys the centuries up to 1923, with the latter half exploring events since the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923. By following the timeline of Turkey's development in clear, chronologically ordered chapters, the work lays out the various civilizations whose remains still sit side by side today.

This second edition delves into the full scope of Turkey's events since 2001, covering the leadership of the Justice and Development party, the prime ministry and controversial presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Gezi Park protests of 2013. The updated content includes a notable figures appendix, glossary, and bibliography that supplies electronic resources for students.


  • Covers the history of Turkey since antiquity
  • Explores Turkey's ancient civilizations, such as the Ottomans, the Byzantines, the Romans, the Greeks, the Hittites, and other Indo-Europeans
  • Emphasizes the evolution of the modern Turkish democracy in the last 100 years
  • Discusses the mixed legacy of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, including Turkish nationalism, aggressive secularism, and repeated military meddling in Turkey's democratic system

The History of Turkey

by Douglas A Howard

Published 30 April 2001

The history of Turkey is a tumultuous one. In a succinct narrative, this study surveys the history of Turkey from the Neolithic age to the Byzantine age, then into the industrial age, and finally into the 21st century. Emphasizing the development of the republic since 1923, it offers the most up-to-date information on this nation. Howard, an authority in the field, shows how Turkey's political, economic, and social system developed as a result of the founding vision of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and circumstances of the Cold War. The history concentrates on the establishment of the Turkish republic as a single-party state in the first half of the 20th century and on the development of politics, the economy, and society during the Cold War years.

The work includes a timeline of important events in the history of Turkey, biographies of its leading figures, a glossary of terms, and a bibliographic essay. This narrative history is ideal for student use and for updating library collections on the history of Turkey.