Turkey is not the first country most people think of when the subject of major civilizational crossroads comes up. Indeed it had, one could legitimately argue, fallen into disregard and ill-repute after the first world war: The combination of the crumbling of the Ottoman-Turkish Empire and the still-disputed Armenian genocide of 1915 both led to Turkey being perceived as a quasi-civilized country with loosely-kept ethical standards and a reputation as a cultural backwater. In the year 2006, of course, this could not be further from the truth.
Turkey is a land of dichotomies. It is neither European nor Asian, neither secular Christian nor religiously Muslim. Its history is one of conquest and invasion, of great civilizations covering the land and deep cultural depressions. And today, Turkey is a land inching toward membership in the European Union yet still possessed of some of its less savory political and cultural habits. More than anything, though, Turkey is a country whose modern-day vibrancy and excitement exist hand-in-hand with its past. In other words, there are few more interesting places in the world for the adventurous student to choose to spend his or her college career.
"The Turkish Republic was established on 29 October 1923 from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire. The origins of modern Turkey can be traced back to the arrival of Turkish tribes in Anatolia in the 11th century, under the Seljuks. Following the defeat of the Seljuk Turks by the Mongols, a power vacuum allowed for the new Ottoman dynasty to establish itself as a powerful force in the region" (www.en.wikipedia.org). The history of the civilizations that have occupied the land, however, goes back much farther. "Constantinople was the name of the modern-day city of Istanbul, Turkey, over the centuries that it served as the second capital of the unified Roman Empire" (www.en.wikipedia.org). In fact, the first settlements in what is now known as Istanbul date to the 7th century B.C.E.
Modern-day Turkey is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Officially a secular state, Turkey is nonetheless facing many of the same problems that other countries with large Muslim populations are dealing with these days. However, the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdog(an, has managed to quell much of this restiveness. This, of course, is largely because of Turkey's desire to be admitted into the European Union. So despite the occasional act of terrorism, Turkey has, nonetheless, managed to remain more peaceful and prosperous than many people ever thought possible.
Istanbul, the capital of Turkey, is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Common wisdom is that a two-week vacation in the city is barely enough to scratch the surface. From the ruins and remnants of all the civilizations that have made the site of the city their home to the bustling metropolis that is modern-day Istanbul, it is the perfect city in which to undertake a full-time college education. The stimulation of attending school in Istanbul-or, for that matter, anywhere in Turkey-is likely unrivaled in the world. There are 85 universities in the country and more than 820 institutes of higher education, so no matter what you would like to study, there is sure to be a school that matches your needs.
Turkey, then, is one of those countries that provides such a wide range of potential experiences for full-time students that it is difficult to find much of a down-side. Perhaps the only real problem could potentially be overstimulation. Which, in the context of a college education, is not a bad thing at all.
