They gave the world empires, carpets, and a distinguished cuisine, but they didn't actually settle in Turkey until the 11th century. Nomadic warriors, the Turks originated from a region between the Caspian Sea and Mongolian desert in Central Asia. After conquering the Greeks, Kurds and Armenians living in Turkey, they went on to establish the Ottoman Empire. Enduring from the 13th century until 1923, the empire ruled over twenty states, including Southern Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya and Saudi Arabia.

Geographically, Turkey is the corridor that connects East to West, and the people are a cultural and racial mix from both sides. While they may appear dour and unsmiling on the surface, the Turks are a gentle, hospitable people, with a keen sense of humour. They are also patriotic and intensely proud of their history. There are 60-65 million Turks living in Turkey today. Another three million live in Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and Western Europe.

For over six hundred years, the Turks proved themselves extremely adaptable to change. When Turkey became a Republic after World War I, President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk introduced radical reforms intended to bring his people into the modern world. The lifestyle of today's urban dwellers contrasts markedly with the traditional values of those living in rural areas. Tension is growing between those who desire entry into the European Community and Islamist groups pushing for greater ties to the Muslim world.


CULTURE

Art, Music, and Dance

One of the Turks' most exuberant art forms are their carpets, sought-after the world over. The carpets feature lively colours, motifs and patterns and have had a commercial reputation since the 13th century. Turkish enamelled tiles are almost as famous as their carpets. The tiles appear in everything from palaces, mosques and churches to baths and soup kitchens. Sculpture, painting, stained glass, and elaborate calligraphy also contribute to their lavish artistic heritage.

Folk dancing frequently plays a role in religious and national holidays, as well as weddings. Some dances, such as the Spoon Dance is performed by both men and women, who use wooden spoons to beat out a rhythm; others, like the famous Sword and Shield Dance, is performed only by men and enacts the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople.

Until recently, Turkish folk music was unwritten and relied on troubadours passing it to succeeding generations. Military music, featuring kettledrums, clarinets, cymbals and bells became popular under the Ottoman Empire and is still performed today.


Language

The official language, Turkish, belongs to the Ural-Altaic language branch, which also includes Finnish, Hungarian and Mongolian. Although Ottoman Turkish was written in Arabic script, the modern language uses the Latin alphabet and is spelled and read phonetically.


Food

Considered one of the three major cuisines in the world (along with Chinese and French), Turkish food includes the famous baklava and equally well-known sis kebab. Lamb is the basic meat of the kitchen, though beef and poultry are also popular. Fresh tomatoes, beans, aubergines, peppers and onions make up a regular part of their diet. Tea is the most common hot drink, but Turkish coffee is rich in flavour and tradition, too! Traders first brought the drink to Istanbul in 1555, where it soon became part of ceremonial rituals involving the Ottoman court as well as betrothal customs. While the rituals may have faded, coffee houses remain important centres of political and social exchange.


ECONOMY

Turkey has the 16th largest economy in the world, and the United States Department of Commerce has called it one of the most promising emerging economies in the world today. Historically, agriculture was the country's largest employer and in 1980 made up 57% of all exports. Today that number has fallen to 10%, while industrial exports, including fashion and textiles, rose from 36 to 88% over the same period. The market is also expanding at home, with dishwashers and high-tech electrical goods becoming increasingly part of middle class life. Tourism, a former money loser for the government, has been transformed into a profit-making industry that generated $8 billion in 1998. In spite of its positive economic achievements, however, the country suffers from high inflation, high public debt and high interest rates.


SOCIETY

Those living in urban areas may have adopted Western values and attitudes, but traditional Turkish society still thrives among the village and rural population. The family is all-important, and a person's status comes from membership in a family or clan. Individualism has no place in traditional Turkish mentality, while honour, modesty, and respect for authority and one's seniors are highly regarded qualities. Family honour guarantees a place in village life, and family members will vigorously defend any attack on their honour.

The situation for women in Turkish society varies. Political and business opportunities exist (Turkey has had a female Prime Minister), yet many areas remain closed to women. A girl's clothing, education and career choice may well depend on her father's attitude. Similarly, a married woman's freedom outside the house may be decided by her husband.


RELIGIOUS LIFE

Islam

Although Islam ceased to be the official religion in 1928 when Turkey became a secular state, it is still assumed that "To be a Turk is to be a Muslim." In spite of the 99% who claim to be Muslim, much fewer adhere to the tenets of their faith. There is widespread ignorance about what Islam actually teaches and people tend to pick and choose which doctrines they will believe, as well as combine them with folk Islam or New Age practices.

Islam as a political factor, however, is having a growing influence. Many Muslims are seeking to develop closer ties to Islamic countries, a worrying trend to those seeking stronger ties with the West and desiring to avoid religious fundamentalism.


Contact with Christianity

Churches established in the first century once flourished in Turkey. The seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation were all located in Turkey; Believers were first called Christians in Antioch; and the apostle Paul was from the Turkish city of Tarsus. 75% of the New Testament was written from or to somewhere in what is now modern Turkey, including Colossians, Galatians and Peter's epistles. Unfortunately, by the time the Turks arrived with Islam, Christianity had become a lifeless, politicised religion of the Byzantine state. Turks are one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. Most Turks have never heard the gospel and prejudice, even hostility, against Christianity is historically rooted as far back as the Crusades.

In spite of difficulties, the Church is growing again. In the 1960's, there were fewer than 10 known evangelical believers, while today there are more than two-dozen fellowships.

The Bible now exists in modern Turkish, and the number of Christian books is rapidly growing. Christian radio programs along with the Jesus video and other Christian films are also available. While censorship is an obstacle, the constitution guarantees religious freedom and opportunities to reach the Turks with the gospel are increasing.


PLEASE PRAY:

• For more long-term workers to go to Turkey to share the gospel.
• For the Lord to raise up Turkish evangelists to reach their own people.
• For the removal of prejudice and misconceptions about Christianity.
• For the strengthening of local Turkish churches.
• For God to give wisdom and favour for the mission agencies working in Turkey.

© International Teams and People International 2003.