Introduction
The modern Republic of Turkey (Türkiye) has developed over thousands of years of migration, cultural and religious development, military conflict, and the rise and decline of powerful and diverse civilizations. Researching Turkish Studies can involve a variety of perspectives and disciplines, including history, political science, language, religion, communications, and more.
This guide provides beginning resources for Turkish Studies research. It is by no means comprehensive, and we encourage you to delve deeper into topics of interest through the Library Catalog or the Journal and Article Locator. Please contact the International and Area Studies Library if you would like a librarian's assistance.
Related Research Guides
Organizations & Resource Centers
- Ottoman & Turkish Studies AssociationEncourages international scholarly cooperation among people and organizations involved in Turkish and Ottoman studies.
- Atlantic Council in TurkeyPromotes dialogue and transatlantic engagement in the region through research, programming, and discussion.
- Turkish Cultural FoundationOrganizes educational programs and consolidates resources for teaching and learning about Turkish history and culture.
A Brief History
- Early 11th century: Turks begin settling in Anatolia, the peninsula which is home to most of modern-day Turkey. Victory against the Byzantines results in the establishment of the Anatolian Seljuk State/Konya Sultanate.
- 1299-1923: Ottoman Age. The decline of the Seljuk State results in the formation of multiple Turkish principalities, including the Ottoman Beylik, which grows into the Ottoman Empire with territory in three continents.
- 1453: The Ottomans capture Constantinople (later, Istanbul). The Byzantine Empire falls.
- 16th century: The Ottoman empire declines economically and militarily in comparison to European states.
- 1914-1918: World War I. Having sided with the allied powers, the Ottoman Empire signs the Mondros Armistice, after which its territories are occupied by Britain, France, Russia, and Greece.
- 1919-1922: The Turkish War of Independence achieves the creation of an independent Turkish state under the leadership of Mustafa Kernal, or Ataturk ("Father of the Turks.")
- October 19, 1923: The official beginning of the Republic of Turkey.
Images and Infographics
Map of Turkey
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Turkey on the Path Towards the EU
EU Delegation to Ankara
The Ottoman Empire
Encyclopaedia Brittanica
News
- Access World News This link opens in a new windowAccess World News from NewsBank provides full-text information and perspectives from over 600 U.S. and over 700 international sources, each with its own distinctive focus offering diverse viewpoints on local, regional and world issues. Date coverage varies with individual newspaper
- Andalou AgencyInternational news organization based in Turkey; available in multiple languages.
- Turkey Profile: Media (BBC)(2019) Brief overview of the current state of the media in Turkey, as well as links and short descriptions of current major Turkish news sources.
- TurkishPressWorld and national news from a Turkish perspective.
