Turkey has always attracted travellers. Over the centuries the landmass of Asia Minor, heart of the great multicultural Ottoman Empire and now the modern Republic of Turkey, experienced waves of migrations, in which one civilization displaced another, leaving a unique and glorious cultural heritage. Its heroic landscapes, magnificent ruins, miles of stunning beaches, and legendary hospitality continue to draw visitors to its shores.

At first glance, Turkey seems Westernized and modern in many ways – but this appearance is misleading. It is a land of contrasts, a heady mixture of Oriental mystery and romance and ultramodern city life, deep-rooted religious faith and determined secularism, a fierce sense of national pride and openness to foreign ideas. Turkish culture is a distinctive blend of European and Middle Eastern ways of life.

Geographical Snapshot
Situated at the southeastern corner of Europe, Turkey straddles the straits that divide Europe and Asia – the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus. Three percent of its landmass lies in Europe, giving it borders with Greece and Bulgaria, while 97 percent lies in Asia. The enormous Asian part, known as Anatolia, shares borders on the east and south with Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijian, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. The country is bounded on three sides by water: the Aegean Sea to the west, the Mediterranean to the south, and the Black Sea to the north.
European Turkey is the most densely populated part of the country. In Anatolia, the population is densest in the west, in urban centres such as Istanbul, Bursa, Izmis, and Izmit, and decreases steadily toward the east. In the interior the population is concentrated along the paths of rivers and in towns such as Ankara, Eskisehir, Konya, Erzurum, Malatya, and Kayseri. Most of the central Anatolian Highlands consist of undulating hills and broad, high plateaus from which mountains occasionally rise. The population if the south coast is massed on the fertile plains of Antalya and Adana, as well as in the province of Hatay, with its port of Iskenderun. There is a steady trend of people moving into the cities from rural areas.

Climate
Turkey’s latitude would lead one to expect a broadly temperate of Mediterranean climate. Owing to its topography, however, the country’s climate varies according to region. Turks claim that all four seasons can be experienced in any one day, albeit in different parts of the country.
The Black Sea coast has a predominantly mild summer and winter. It is the area with the heaviest rainfall and is famous for its tea plantations.
The Mediterranean and Aegean coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate, with long, hot, dry summers and mild winters.
The Marmara coast is a climatic transitional zone between the first two. It is hot, but does not have such dry summers. The winters are cool, with occasional frosts and outbreaks of snow.
Central Anatolia has a markedly continental climate, with hote summers around 86ºF (30ºC), and bitterly cold, snowy winters, sometimes down to – 22ºF (-30ºC). There are large temperature swings between day and night and even in summer the nights can be surprisingly cool.

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Respect & Honour
Turkish culture places great emphasis on respect, honour and pride. This is a society where “old fashioned” manners are still practiced. Last names are rarely used; instead, titles are applied to the first name as sign of respect or relationship.

Seniority is owed considerable respect in Turkey; young people will pay visits to their elders on special holidays first, and will be actively concerned with their well-being. It is not unusual to see someone making a gesture such as a gentle bow greeting someone senior to themselves in either age or authority. Gray-haired visitors may find themselves treated especially well.
Honour is important and Turkish culture is strongly hierarchical. Individuals are ranked according to status. Age is significant in determining this. Determining relative status by age however, also depends on the older person’s perception of himself.
Showing respect is vital. Other people who are normally honoured may have power based on individual reputation, family, fame, wealth and political or religious leadership. Also, people in positions of authority will be honoured by those under them; for example, an employer will be treated deferentially by an employee, and a teacher will be honoured by a student.

Groups & Families
Turkish society is very group-oriented. Group allegiance is paramount, and Turks will be faithful to the group on which they depend for their identity and support. An idiom to affirm this is “In the end, you know who your family is”. It is a multifaceted value found in each level of society.
The social unite with the strongest demands on a person’s loyalty is the family – the fundamental structure of life. It gives many benefits but requires certain obligations. A Turkish proverb goes “A sheep separated from the flock is eaten by wolves”. The family expects deep loyalty in all aspects of life, social and otherwise.

National Pride
The Turkish phrase, “Ne mutlu Türküm diyene!” (“How happy is he or she who can say, I am Turkish!”) is one of the most frequently encountered slogans. This expression genuinely reflects most Turkish people’s belief in and commitment to their nation and homeland.

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The above extract is kindly provided by Culture Smart! the essential guide to customs & culture. The 168-page guide retails at £6.95 + P&P and is available directly from Kuperard, the publishers of Culture Smart! guides.

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