The Emergence of Turkey

Turkey was found in 1923 A.D., following the demise of the 600-year-old Ottoman Empire.

Following a 3 year civil war, Turkey emerged from the ashes of WWI as an independent nation with a democratically elected secular president and parliament.

The new government of Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) moved the capitol from Istanbul to Ankara in 1923 and initiated many western style political reforms. He abolished the religious courts and schools and he had adopted the Swiss civil code as the basis of the nation's judicial system and the outlawing of religious related clothing.