Turkey - A Country Profile

This video is all about TURKEY, a Mediterranean country located at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East, with cultural and linguistic roots in Central Asia.
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●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Credits▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●
Producer, co-writer and host: Paul
Writer: Apo Ilgun
Video editor: Luis Solana Ureña
●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Video co-stars▬▬▬▬●
Santiago González
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●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Images▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●
Commercial images licensed from istock.com
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Creative Commons images used in this video: docs.google.com/document/d/1z...
●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Music▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●
"Sunshower" by LATASHÁ, courtesy of KZbin Audio Library.

[@GEOfocusChannel]

Turkey has CHANGED its name: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqS9qoGdppp0ns0

[@800kyasuo]

As a Turk, I cannot call Turkiye either Central Asian or European. I think Turkiye is a separate continent. 😜

[@stantinosPalaiologos-xi7fj]

For us is always turkey🦃 hahaha whats is name ..to change..Clothes?You are so funny 😀

[@Theartime665]

..

[@GEOfocusChannel]

@@Theartime665 Yes, click the link. :)

[@Theartime665]

@@GEOfocusChannel Pardon i didn't notice

[@cjc2]

I’m not Turkish, but I’ve been to Turkey twice in the last 5 years. What amazed me was how modern and efficient their infrastructure is. It was much more modern than that what we have in the US. The people are amazing and warm. In Istanbul I walking around a European city with more mosques than churches. From observation the Turkish people I met where mostly white, and also noticed many have slight Asian features. I’d say their culture is a beautiful blend of mostly European, with lots of central Asian and middle eastern influences in food, customs, religion. All this has formed a unique Turkish culture.

[@pars-efe3543]

But our roads are not free for pass and oil is extremely expensive 27₺/L minimum wage is around 4000₺

[@yavuzsultanselim4581]

*Türkiye

[@pars-efe3543]

@@yavuzsultanselim4581 Türkiye çok saçma bence Turchia var İtalyanca o daha mantıklı

[@yavuzsultanselim4581]

@@pars-efe3543 , o da olabilir yeter ki “hindi” demeyin.

[@Sefaanti]

Thanks for your nice comments bro, I hope you come to Türkiye more...

[@holyrosecross]

トルコと日本は信頼関係が深く尊敬し合う国どうしです。 トルコを扱ってくれて有り難く思います。

[@djdjjd7188]

Thank you 🙏 Loves from Turkey 💖

[@sbd03]

🇹🇷💖🇯🇵

[@mrs.marshmallow5808]

We love Japan 🇯🇵 ♥

[@mr.movement5176]

love from Toruko!

[@furu2090]

Culture and everything really similar to japanese culture or even the history and myhts loves from Turkey i love Nippon and i see japanese people as brothers or as you say kyodai i wish you a good day

[@candanismant5281]

I am from Turkey, and I see my country and ethnicity as none of Europe or Middle East but something on its own mixed or influenced from both sides. It is an amalgamation of many cultures embedded within the geography and the course of history.

[@mundord6042]

*Turkiye

[@mojaslovenija9903]

I am from Central Europe, and Turkiye, even the "Asia Minor" is to be part of Europe (Yes, right ... Asia Minor is considered as Asian part...). Europe is not a continent but part of the continent of Eurasia. Europe is a historical and cultural term. Turkiye was an integral part of European history since medieval times.

[@farajaraf]

Turkish exceptionalism

[@azizsipahi8332]

Ben öyle görmüyorum.Genetik olarak fazla değişmedik.3-5 bin kişi karıştı diye koca Türk Milletini karışık gösteremezsiniz.DNA havuzu saçmalığı başka bir konu.

[@mertnecati875]

@@farajaraf You go comment to comment and cry. You gotta stop biting pillows and relax. Yes, Türkiye is exceptional.

[@JBugz777]

One of the most important & beautiful countries in the world - I'm from Israel & we love Turkey! 😍🇹🇷

[@user-wr5no7mi8d]

thanks dude

[@lokalimuz6828]

Israelis are one of our oldest allies you are always very welcome 🇹🇷❤️🇮🇱

[@koseku3]

But Turks don't really like Jews sadly

[@b.a.9437]

ahh israeeelll 🇮🇱💗🇹🇷 love from turkey

[@sahin5783]

We love you too 🇹🇷💓🇮🇱💓🇦🇿

[@golfinoukaterina]

I am a Greek and my partner is Turkish. So I think Turkey is something on its own, a mix of western and eastern civilization and mentality, doesn't belong somewhere specifically. What I have come to observe is that there are common traits between the countries of the eastern mediterranean area in which belong Turkey, Greece, Israel and Cyprus, thus we can consider the civilization of these countries as quite similar to the point of creating a distinct civilization.

[@yilmazberkay12]

Well said dear Katerina:)

[@2kere2yirmiiki78]

yemeklerimizi çalmayı bırakın.

[@Salsaman34]

Thanks for the thoughtful comments Katerina! Your observations about East Med is completely correct.

[@kvanck5774]

A very accurate observation.

[@smsppns]

I agree, and we might need to include a bit more, such as Bulgaria and Albania into this civilization

[@mousamoradi3038]

As an Iranian Turk (Azerbaijani), Turkey is always like a second home to me. I love our cultural similarities, I love their incredible food (even now that I live in Europe, Turkish restaurants are my favorite place to go) and I love how hospitable and welcoming the Turkish people are. 🇹🇷🇮🇷🇦🇿

[@babaklami2410]

🇮🇷🇹🇷🇦🇿🧿

[@klutzysalami]

the common historical experience of undergoing turkification that our people (azeris) and Anatolian turks experienced is what unites. whether from greekspeaking to turkish speaking or iranicspeaking to turkish speaking, we have similar experiences, and hence similar culture. 🇮🇷🇹🇷🇦🇿

[@mousamoradi3038]

@@klutzysalami Yes, of course, a lot of historical events contributed to this factor. Wheather to make us similar or different. A lot of migrations, assimilations, politics, and even religion: Islam made us closer and Shia/Sunni separated us. In the end, I like every human being. But it's only natural to feel closer with people who share any kind of similarity.

[@OgedayKaan]

@@klutzysalami the last common historical experience shared by Anatolian Turks and Azerbaijani Turks (living in Iran and Azerbaijan) was 1000 years ago. Since then they have not never been under the same state. So, the similarity of these people are the Turkic culture, not a culture from any other nation like Greek or Persian...

[@plo8920]

Learn about ancient azeri language...azeri have 90% west Asian dna...Original Turks were east asian mongoloid race people's proved by archeological evidence & ancient chinese &arab sources ..they moved east asia to Anatolia

[@MrBabyBlue1993]

I was in Turkey in 2018 ,it is such a beautiful diverse Country ,i loved every second of it , Pamukalle and Cappadoccia my favorite places ,Istambul such a beautiful city ,AnKara is also magnificent

[@yavuzsultanselim4581]

*Türkiye

[@MrBabyBlue1993]

@@yavuzsultanselim4581 you are 100 per cent right

[@glimmer4954]

You should also come to Antalya. I think the most beautiful city in Turkey.

[@atayuce1948]

İSTANBUL WİTH AN ‘N’ not an ‘M’

[@MrBabyBlue1993]

@@atayuce1948 sorry my mistake, in my native language portuguese , we write with M

[@thebob563]

Turkey has always fascinated me. From its geography, sights, history, and culture, there’s so much to learn about it!

[@farajaraf]

It’s as if Germany would have been allowed to keep its conquests. Colonizers always have cool things they stole.

[@user-ki9jd3uk4w]

@No-Mad they were

[@mundord6042]

*Turkiye

[@user-ki9jd3uk4w]

@No-Mad they colonised anatolia what's today turkey

[@kray8405]

@No-Mad i wish we could do it now.. can we??

[@turkcukayi]

Best wishes from the Western Black Sea region of Türkiye. Even regions in Türkiye may differ within themselves. For example, the Western Black Sea region where I am is a mixture of ancient Asia Minor peoples and Türks, while the Eastern Black Sea region is generally a mixture of Caucasian peoples. As we are located at the heart of the Eastern Roman and Ottoman Empires, we have very different ethnic identities and cultures. Thank you for introducing our country.

[@itsgiag]

I love Türkiye, it is a beautiful country and has one of the most extravagant cultures around the world.

[@medicporcupine4077]

As a turk I don't see myself european or middle eastern. I think we are eurasian

[@halfevilhalfgood5738]

@@kayacenk4164 still stone age as long you are fanatic from your religion. LoL

[@mundord6042]

@@kayacenk4164 *Turkiye

[@mrs.marshmallow5808]

I don't think it's any different from a middle eastern country.

[@madara8626]

@@halfevilhalfgood5738 Aegean sides are not religious and young population as well. But East sides of the Turkey yeah. So religious

[@doga9670]

@@mrs.marshmallow5808 I think you don’t know much about Middle Eastern cultures and traditions.

[@pokemondelisi749]

I am a Turk. I lived in abroad both in MiddleEast and The West. I define Türkiye as none of them. This is for two reasons. One of them is Turkey is a large country. There are lot of cultural layers formed since the beginning and they are still alive. The second one is it differs a lot region to region to define people's culture. You can not put Bodrum and Erzurum in one bag to define them. The gap is so deep.

[@nenenindonu]

There were 2 major Turkic migrations into Anatolia which contributed to the Turkification of the peninsula, The migration of Seljuk Turks after the Battle of Manzikert and the Khwarezmid Turks following the Mongol invasion

[@boraboranloglu9489]

Don't forget the Turks who came long before Seljukis. Their coming was first for Muslim Turks but in fact large numbers of Turks had already been Christianized and made to migrate to Anatolia by East Roman Empire starting from 4th century A.D. Their still-Christian remnants were known as Karamanlides in 20th century (they were sent to Greece according to the Population Exchange between Turkey and Greece.

[@AndrewJohnson-hq3di]

The scientific facts shows turkic tribes had not enough poulation to change anatolia gene pool but as rulers imposed their desert culture on the natives. we can see even in present time culture of turkey is close to desert and nomad tribes of central asia !!!!!

[@boraboranloglu9489]

@@AndrewJohnson-hq3di which scientific facts? For example, do you know anything about comparison of genetic samples from Göktürk bodues and current Anatolian Turks? Or do you know anything about the coverage and population ratio and limita of devshirme system?

[@shrektheintelllectual3615]

@@AndrewJohnson-hq3di population was high enough to contribute but not entirely replace the old populations

[@yakupkeser385]

Nenenin şalvarı....500 lü yıllarda amca oğullarımız Bulgarlar(ki sonra Slavlaşıp 1912 de zulüm yapınca Karacaoğlan'ın aşağıdaki koşmasında bulunan BULGAR DAĞININ adı BOLKAR yapılmıştır.) Avarlar (618 ve 626 da iki defa İstanbul'u kuşatmış BELLİUM AVARİCUM diye halen her paskalya da 6 ncı ilahi olarak okunan dua ya sebep olmuş.Orta Avrupa ,Balkanlar ve Ukrayna da 300 sene devlet olarak yaşamışlardır)Peçenekler,Kuman,Kıpçaklar (Ki Macar devlet adamları biz Kıpçak Türküyüz diyorlar.)Uz lar olarak Balkanlarda ve Anadolu da idiler.Osmanlı'nın edrak-ı bi idrak dediği Türkler bunlardı. Andavallı ,konuşmayan,bön bakan ,İstanbul'a gelip bakkallık manavlık yapan Ortodosk Türklerdi .Şimdi adı Aktaş dır.Maalesef bunları ellerimizden mübadele denilen zorunlu göç ile aldılar.1071 de Müslüman Oğuzlar olarak geldik.Bugün bu grupda Türkiye,Azerbaycan ve Türkmenistan Türkleri vardır. Yörü, behey Bulgar Dağı! Senden yüce dağ olma mı? Sende yaylayan güzelin, Yanakları ağ olma mı? Bulgar Dağı iki çatal. Arasında güller biter. Bir yiğide bir yar yeter, İki seven del'olma mı? Bulgar Dağı pare pare. Kim'al giyer, kimi kare, Selam eylen nazlı yare, Ayrılanlar bir olma mı? Yol üstünde iki hanlar, Hani sana konan canlar? Sevip sevip ayrılanlar, Yanıp yanıp kül olma mı? Karac'oğlan, seni gördüm; Düşümü hayıra yordum. Bugün güzellere sordum, Bencileyin kul olma mı. Eteğinde kervan işler, Yükseğinde döner kuşlar. Kürk geydirir, at bağışlar Hemen beğler sende m'olur? Yaylası ufak tepeler! Yağar yağmur, kar sepeler. Kulakta altın küpeler, Hemen güzel sende m'olur? Karac'oğlan, düz ovalar. Şahanın keklik kovalar. İnil inil taş yuvarlar, Koca seller sende m'olur?

[@idraote]

I would love to visit the whole of Turkey. Such a fascinating country, full of sites and gorgeous beaches... I could never get bored while spending a long holiday on those beaches :) and I plan to enjoy one as soon as possible. I'm even trying to learn a few basic expressions with Duolingo. Turkish is a fascinating language with many quirks, even at a very basic level.

[@mundord6042]

*Turkiye

[@idraote]

@@mundord6042 I refuse to use it, unless I'm speaking Turkish.

[@denizmundo]

@@idraote why?

[@keremimamoglu9552]

we are name is Türkiye hi= merhaba how are you: nasılsın excuse me: afedersin

[@nxx33]

The mountain landscapes in turkey in some cities are incredible

[@anilkarakaya9343]

Turkey also is home of different major climates and vegetation. Mediterranean aegean regions are typical mediterrenean climate with hot dry summers and rainy winters and lots of olives. Izmir is a cultural center in eagean coast very similar to thessaloniki for greece. Central anatolia is very much like steppes where rains occur more in spring and early weeks of summer rather than winter and its a dry climate. This is first turkified place in anatolia because of its similarity to central asian steppes. Eastern black sea region hosts large rainforests and this wet climate is very rare in europe. This is the last turkified place from pontic dominance and its local dialect still has similarities with greek sounds. This part also has caucasian influence, their high temperamant and dances are very much like caucasus region and don cossacks. Eastern turkey has a quite high altitude, during summers it typically looks like scottish highlands with grean meadows and fewer forests and its winters are very cold and snows last a long time. Armenians were in every corner of anatolia in small percentages but they were concentrated in some cities here, the city of kars is still culturally different and its traces are there. Southeastern turkey is a plateau like central asia hotter, reflecting middle eastern neighbours. Heavy kurdish and arabic influence is in cities like urfa and diyarbakir but also the city of gaziantep reflects the typical historical turkish culture in the area. Hatay(antioch), mardin iskenderun, tarsus are very cosmopolitan cities hosting early christian like assyrian and jewish communities alike.

[@yavuzsultanselim4581]

Not Turkey. *Türkiye

[@turkishissunlanguage]

In Diyarbakır, city's western side is mostly populated by Zazaki people tho And as a Zazaki, I love my country 🇹🇷 Long Live TÜRKİYE^^

[@KHahaLol]

@@yavuzsultanselim4581 ingilizcede ü yok

[@yavuzsultanselim4581]

@@KHahaLol , banane. Kendileri düşünsün.

[@KHahaLol]

@@yavuzsultanselim4581 Salakmısın sen çince yazarken kendi dilinde ya da ingilizce yazarsın. Çin harfleriyle değil.

[@abluecassette]

Great video Paul, and your Turkish pronunciation is very good. Would love to visit Turkey someday, I have an online friend who lives in Samsun, on the Black Sea coast who I would love to meet. He used to live in Kayseri just down the road from Kapadokya. I'm not even Turkish (Aussie) but I love the language, food, music. :)

[@kymalpide5901]

Iam from samsun

[@Musicalheart430]

You forgot a really important place in Sotheastern Anatolia. In Şanlıurfa, there is a place named Göbeklitepe and it is the oldest structure in the world. It's age is over 12.000 years.

[@andreasalpha9570]

And YOU forgot to mention that this structure was not built by turks

[@Musicalheart430]

Sorry, my English is not so good

[@andreasalpha9570]

@@Musicalheart430 The english in your first comment is good enough. You either say something better than silence or keep silent.

[@avenity4744]

@@andreasalpha9570 so yo had to be toxic...

[@andreasalpha9570]

@@avenity4744 Truth is not toxic

[@Zhalghas-YZ]

Love Türan Türkiye 🇹🇷 From Türan Qazaqstan 🇰🇿😁.

[@Polo-rn8ly]

There is No turan my friend.. We are becoming failed state.. Protect your nice country from this mess

[@Zhalghas-YZ]

@@Polo-rn8ly Where you from?

[@Zhalghas-YZ]

@Hannah Hanson Where you from?

[@musakaya5039]

Hi, Paul! I presume that we have more in common with Balkan and Caucasus countries compared to Western / Northern Europe and the Middle East. To me, along with European and Middle Eastern influences sprinkled on it, Turkey has a mixed culture that has been constituted throughout the centuries. As a guy who's originally from an eastern province of the country, since i don't have any religion, i don't have any Arabic/Islamic influences in my daily life, but that doesn't mean I have a totally western-influenced lifestyle.I believe that many people in Turkey have that kind of lifestyle, which is not entirely European or Middle Eastern.

[@AFBLYS]

U r not alone ✌️👍

[@musakaya5039]

@@AFBLYS Glad you agree with me.

[@AFBLYS]

@@musakaya5039 Berlin‘den sevgiler 👍✌️

[@musakaya5039]

@@AFBLYS Türkiye'den sevgiler☺️

[@akinoz]

Well stated.

[@lucasascari3939]

Very nice video! It was really interesting to know Turkey's ethnic, linguistic, and cultural origins which define it as a nation nowadays. Also, it seems a very beautiful and charming place to go.

[@anatolian1842]

Hello, I am Turkish. I would like to point out about the video that it was a good introduction to us, congratulations. Türkiye is culturally, historically and genetically a mixture of Europe and Asia. You can tell what a unique country it is even by the looks of the people; white, brunette, or black. I don't think Türkiye belongs to either Asia or Europe. We are culturally and genetically Eurasian and I like that very much. The lands of today's Türkiye have hosted the Hittites, Lydians and Urartians, who are the indigenous nations of Anatolia for thousands of years. Then Romans, Greeks, Armenians and finally Turks lived in Anatolia. The accumulation of all these nations shows how important today's Türkiye is. I love my country!!

[@bigboyrambo2009]

no black

[@azizsipahi8332]

Hayır Avrupa ile genetik karışıklığımız yok.3-5 BİN KİŞİ EVLENDİ DİYE KOCA MİLLETE KARIŞMIŞ DİYEMEZSİNİZ.

[@bigboyrambo2009]

@@RusselKabirTR they are Africans not Turks, big difference. Turks come from central Asia and black people come from Africa.

[@bigboyrambo2009]

@@RusselKabirTR to be a Turk your father has to be Turk. This is Turkish culture. Turkiye is not the western Zionist world where if you're born there it's now your country.

[@anatolian1842]

@@azizsipahi8332 anadoluya gelen türk sayısı max 100 bin buranın nüfusu milyonlarca ermeni yunandı bi zahmet karışacaklar

[@azizatay3714]

I am from Turkey and I can say that geneticly, Turkey is half European and Half Middle Eastern and Central Asian. So is our culture. We are as modern as any Balkan country but not as a west European one.

[@elyssespeaks]

Great video Paul!! I've been loving you branching out into geography :) studying languages has also given me a greater interest in geography and history. This video was perfect timing for me, I'm studying Turkish and the country as a whole is so diverse and interesting. Keep it up!

[@kemalsarac4741]

An impressive comment 😍 Thank you for your comments about my country. Where are you from?

[@niluferrdilekk826]

Elysse, I've searched for your comment and found it😁

[@danette7569]

@@kemalsarac4741 pakilerden farksızsın

[@grimbledore2972]

Hello elysse ^^ i love your videos

[@karlbasallote6719]

Like Turkey, the Philippines is also divided into 81 provinces.

[@mundord6042]

*Turkiye

[@Jote_09]

Love Philippines from turkey, u guys are so easygoing and sweet

[@yavuzsultanselim4581]

Not Turkey. *Türkiye

[@selimbugracamc2734]

@@yavuzsultanselim4581 turkiye ü alfabelerinde yok

[@yavuzsultanselim4581]

@@selimbugracamc2734 , kendi sorunları.

[@obrakadabra2870]

If you are European (especially French i don't know why :D) and don't recognize Turkey as an European country and you also should not recognize Turkey as a Middle Eastern country then. Because the amount of years we Turks have spend in both Middle East and Europe is the same since we Turks came to Anatolian soils AC 1071. So if we are not European then we are not also Middle Eastern. The world should admit that Turks are Turk that's all :) I personally recognize myself culturally Anatolian which is unique in my opinion but according to my European friends told me we are European even Greek (according to what my Greek friend told me :D) and on the other hand according to what my Arabic friend told me we are totally different from Arabs. So i think we are one of the unique ethnicity in the world. Yeah! That's it.

[@20ege008]

Well as a turk I see turkey as a sentence we all know "turkey is a heaven for everyone other than turkish people" (türkiye türkler dışında herkese cennettir). Mostly cuz of recent politic moves and syrian refugees our economy has collapsed and 90% of people has really difficult living standarts and the middle class is fully gone we are all poor and some lucky ones are rich

[@samykiani944]

Ne yazik ya. Insallah ileride durum Türk halki icin düzelir.

[@ahazeahaze6712]

Hadi ordan .isiniz gucunuz yalan dolan .fakirmis de batmismis da.uydurmayin .burda yazan insanlarin ulkeleri nasilsa senin ulkende oyle.ekonomik zorluk cekmeyen hangi ulke var bu zamanda.o kotu yonetilmekten degil canim.insanlara burda Turkiye yi kotuleme propagandasi yapma o yarim aklinla.virus ,savas . Turkiye ye, Erdogan gitsin diye yapilan sayisiz girisim ,saldirilarda cabasi .sen surda yazanlarin ulkelerine evlerine git bi senin evindeki kadar luks yasantilari yoktur.isiniz gucunuz yalancilik sikayet memnuniyetsizlik .he her ulke gulluk gulistanlik bi Turkiye de sıkınti var algisi olusturma derdinizdesiniz o biseye yaramayan aklinizla.birakin artik bu ayaklari.surda aciz diye yazip internet tlf. kullanan insanlar var.ne b.ktan acliksa herkesde pahali tlf.internet paketleri.onlarda bedava zaar.sen bunlarla anca Senin gibileri Turkiyeyi tanimiyanlari kandirirsin.bitmedi fakir edebiyatiniz.dusun su ulkenin yakasindan be.

[@selfworm]

This video was such a treat. Great job!

[@mariax1485]

Hi Paul. Thanks for another great video. Really helps me to relax after a long day while also helping me learn about the world 🌍 😊

[@Bellasie1]

Great video as usual! Fascinating country.

[@rungxanh2901]

One of my close friends are from Turkey, and after this video I love the country even more

[@emililiev995]

Excellent presentation! Bravo!

[@Stoffies123]

Just found your channel and I'm definitely subscribing. I love the chill but still educational style videos.

[@CCCP_Again]

Türkiye (not Turkey) is one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world, part of the reason why I am learning Türkçe 😊.

[@irregulararmy]

weird, where are you from?

[@CCCP_Again]

@@irregulararmy why is it weird?

[@ilbilgehatun278]

Love from Türkiye my dear👏❤️

[@sallycoop935]

the other reason must be the turkish bollywood

[@CCCP_Again]

@@sallycoop935 the other reason is my girlfriend is also learning Türkçe 😂

[@rumeysaongul4765]

Nice video Paul! As a Turk, I feel like it's quite a clear explanation. Though there are two small mistakes in this video. 1. You said over 99% of Turkey is Muslim. It's actually 98 by official senses, but a bit lower due to some people (especially among the younger urban population) leaving Islam. 2. While talking about the Syrians, you called Istanbul, the "capital city", although as you mentioned earlier in the video, it's Ankara. Besides that, nice video even though I thought you'd mention tea, rain, and hazelnuts for the Black Sea Region as well.😁

[@GEOfocusChannel]

I found many sources saying it was 99% according to the government, but I didn’t find see the official government source itself. I recall that one source said it was 98.6%, so it could be a rounding issue. Of course many people are non-practicing these days, but still counted by the government as muslims. You’re right about the second comment. Somehow that got past me. I know Ankara is the capital, of course. I removed that sentence from the video.

[@emreakt8291]

bu oranın %98 olduğuna inanan hulkada inanır

[@pyrusheliosmk2204]

@@GEOfocusChannel official numbers are not true.

[@lunarbike]

10-15% are nonreligious people (atheist, deist, agnostic) (becoming deist is a fact and trend in Turkey nowadays) 10-15 % are alevites(mixture of shamanism and islam) 1 % christians and jews( greeks , armenians , asyrianis, latin catholics , protestans , sephardic jews) 70-80 % sunni muslims (but most of them not so religous only cosniders themselves as muslim)

[@kanalizasyon490]

@@GEOfocusChannel This statistic doesn't really mean anything. When people are born, they are written as Muslims, and nobody cares. If you want, you can register or change it in another way. Still, most Turks are Muslims, but the rate is not that high. My guess is between 60-70%

[@manuelsolana1429]

Muy interesante el vídeo, como siempre. Muchas gracias 👍

[@gulizates]

Thanks for the making this video very detailed and non-biased. The info was picked very well as well. You have such a great channel ☺️

[@HK-rw3ig]

First of all you have to define what Europe is and where the cradle of the European civilisation was. Anatolia has always been part of Europe. Look at the ancient cities like Troy and Ephesus.Referred then as ‘Asia Minor’ to show it’s uniqueness.For me Turkiye is a European country with Mediterranean,central asian,Balkan and Middle Eastern flavours.For those who argue this, I would suggest them to take some history classes.The one’s who will categorise Turkiye as Middle Eastern is because they still didn’t accept the Turks conquered Europe’s most big and powerful city Istanbul.The funny thing about this is that some categorise Istanbul as if it is a middle Eastern city. Ok if you walk through Istiklal street and you look at he people there you might think you are somewhere in the Middle East.But don’t be afraid this is just temporarily.But once again if you lift your head and look above you will see that you are in Europe with its late 19th century neo classical buildings.

[@turkishissunlanguage]

Most of those buildings were from the Tulip Era. At those times, nearly everyone influenced everyone. For example; during the 16th to 18th century, the aesthetics of "Turquerie" was the fashion of the Western Europe. Especially the French was under the heavy influence of Turkish Dresses and Culture. And in the early 18th century (1718-1730) the aesthetics of "Tulip Era" was the fashion in the Ottoman Empire. In the Tulip Era, Ottomans were under the heavy influence of Western European Artitecture and Turkish women usually styled their hair in French style (even tho most of those hair styles were not seen or were under the transparent headcovering called as "yaşmak" which was at its peak starting from 1830s to late 1890s, and also till 1940s, yaşmak became popular around the Women of the Arabic Royalty) which can be seen as today, nearly all of the Ottoman Women's Hairstyles were of French origin. Also, what do you mean by "Don't be afraid"? Why would people be afraid of Middle Eastern People? Ugh- it sucks seeing that the west once again achieved what they wanted...

[@ViLLaPar0s]

You are talking about Hellenistic and Byzantine period. After the fall of Kostantinople, none country of the west claimed ever that turkey is the cradle of the western civilization. Sounds like a bad joke.

[@HK-rw3ig]

@@ViLLaPar0s 25% of Europe was Turkish what kind of a no ze you are talking about.

[@sallycoop935]

25% or 50% of Europe Does it matter? You did not produce any culture, any civilization at that time. Just killings.

[@ViLLaPar0s]

@@sallycoop935 correct. That's why after so many years of occupation nobody speaks Turkish. In comparison with English, French and Spanish where is the spoken languages in their colonies still.

[@longjohn929]

If you go to Central Anatolia, you will see that it is no different from Central Asia.

[@omrivol]

Great video!

[@Khotang34]

Paul you are great .

[@PatsuanTV]

Your pronunciation of Turkish words was terrific! Great video once again. :) As a Turkish living abroad for the last 6 years and working with so many foreigners from different countries, I agree that Turkish is a mixture of European and Middle Eastern. We call our country the bridge between the East and West and I feel that a lot in the culture. It can get tricky in public relations since we don't belong the either of the cultural stereotypes. Sometimes US' diverse culture is much more resembling than just European or Middle Eastern cultures, IMO.

[@noir1923]

thank you for covering our country in your video,even though our country has serious problems,i love my country.Its a good mix of east and west.

[@seymak8584]

Woow! One more impressive video! Well done Paul.

[@hikmetaksoy4939]

Thanks for the quick and accurate explanation.😉

[@nesucka]

Paul, thank you for giving such accurate information about my country and for introducing my country, which unites Europe and Asia and has many cultures within every region and cities ☺ Turkey is one of an unique country in this world 👌🏻🎈 PS: thanks to this diversity we have an incredible cuisine 😂

[@IIIMrReaperIII]

Well with leader you have now it isnt unique, without him in the picture, Turkey is good country , despite that the places that are on the Agean sea are greek, that's why its unique

[@nesucka]

I would like to remind you that both countries share the Aegean Sea. Apart from that, this offensive comment you made is unnecessary. If you don't like turkey and turks, I would appreciate it if you don't comment under a post about turkey. I don't hate any country or its people. I recommend it to you too.

[@IIIMrReaperIII]

@@nesucka I don't hate all the Turks, I hate those who want my county's land, in the past you took too much hats enough!

[@nesucka]

@@IIIMrReaperIII no one wants your land. Please do not believe the hate speeches that are being created between the two countries.

[@nikosnikos8184]

@@nesucka the image of turkey is very ugly for us. Your politicians speak very unfriendly to us. Turkey sends thousands of migrants to the Greek coast, they do not recognize Greek islands and threaten war.

[@keremakyuz1839]

As a Turkish who was born and raised in Istanbul, I've never thought of myself as a European or Middle Eastern but Anatolian. And I believe many Turks will give you the same answer.

[@aybukeyalcnkaya1829]

True

[@koba0798]

good vid thanks

[@aytackaradut1860]

nice content loved it

[@flanorlerii5626]

Hi Paul, thank you so much for this episode. I'm from Turkey and I think Turkiye (it is officially the new name of the country) is European, but also it is West Asian (I don't agree with the "middle east" term, west asia is more convenient). West anatolia, Thrace, Black Sea Region and Mediterannean Regian are more European compared to Central Anatolia, East Anatolia and South East Anatolia which they are more closer to Middle East. But overall in terms of lifestyle, way of living and mindset Turkey is European. But also culturally it has ties with middle east, but not that much anymore. But this is the case in nearly every country, there are no homogenous culture and living in any country, so this is accurate for Turkey too. But we can say that West and sout anatolia is really close to Greek and Italian culture, but in east it is more close to Persian and Arabic culture. In black sea the culture influence comes from Caucasus region. Anyway I am open to any kind of argument and thanks again for the video!

[@passiflora_girl]

Çok iyi anlatmışın kardeşim👏

[@elafalshahrani3174]

No turkey is not European country

[@sadrazampower]

@@elafalshahrani3174 Turkey has never been fully European and Middle Eastern, a unique structure.

[@DM-wk7yr]

Merhaba! I am Turkish-American, and I tend to view Türkiye as both European and Middle Eastern. It’s a nation that doesn’t need to fit one description, which I think makes it that more amazing of a country, a land, and a people. And thanks for the video, Paul! You did a great job at explaining it clearly and making it fun to watch! 👍

[@elindnikospetropoulos2369]

Merhaba is Arabic word

[@DM-wk7yr]

@@elindnikospetropoulos2369 It’s also used in Turkish for the very common word “hello.”

[@elindnikospetropoulos2369]

@@DM-wk7yr Turkish is a weak lenguage

[@metmela204]

@@elindnikospetropoulos2369 esenlikler

[@sallycoop935]

How you would explain the genocides? As a turkish? As an american? After all your new homeland recognised the genocides againt the armenians

[@berkayacar8062]

excellent research and accurate informations

[@vendetta4400]

great video love it

[@hba5058]

Hey Paul, I like this video so much. I am from Turkey and this video feels like reading a "hayat bilgisi" book. (hayat bilgisi=the knowledge of life, which is a subject that turkish students have to take in first, second and third grade.) Also, I cannot see my country in a certain region:( . I don't know where we belong to, I don't know where I belong to. It is very complicated especially for us. Sometimes we look like a European country, sometimes not. Or maybe we should learn that we can have middle Eastern, European and Anatolian features together. I am from the aegean region of Turkey and I always call myself "aegean". Probably somebody from a different region call themselves differently. So even we are not have a clear answer for this question. I want to mention one thing as well: people in the instagram's comments section, they must have a special degree in hell. I know we are not pure European but don't comment down every post like "Turkey is NOT EUROPE HAHA.". It's rude 😕 we used to be a different and happier country. 😌 anyway, nice video Paul. I've been watching you for 4-5 years hehehe, have a nice day.

[@mundord6042]

*Turkiye

[@hba5058]

@@mundord6042 thanks, but please let me choose the name for my own country.

[@hba5058]

@silazophia at that time it was a very recent new and of course people were not pretty comfortable with it. I know it is türkiye, but I meant I'm familiar with using turkey and i wrote turkey because of that in the comment.

[@hba5058]

@silazophia I know, I just had written it in the wrong/different way when I was typing. Just didn't wanted to edit at first (for not making misconception) thanks anyway :)

[@Loki-bv7mr]

I'm from Turkey. As you can see the video, our country has such different types and it depends on. Most of the Turks don't like to be called one of the Middle East countries and its ethnics. If you to to the western part, almost everyone say that we're European. If you go to eastern part like Eastern or Southeastern Anatolia ,instead of west, their culture, life style is much closer to Middle East countries. In sum, i'd say that most of us see ourselves as a European in terms of life style, secularism, appearences etc.

[@rommelhyper3545]

What Europeans ? You are mongol my friend

[@Loki-bv7mr]

​@@rommelhyper3545 should i being angry or what? i'd appreciate that we've alike culture. But we are not exactly the same race. We trained them in our countries. I'd rather you had taken a glance to Uyghurs' history 'cause as i see from your comment you're just a freak that know nothing about history xd dont be like that please ;)

[@aluminiumknight4038]

Imagine calling your self European when half of your history was conquering Europe, as an outsider

[@cgdmgl302]

Thank you for branding us, people who live in the eastern part of Turkey as middle easterns. And I hate to break it to you but most of that middle eastern style people have been living in the big cities of west for decades. So not much cultural difference between east and west anymore.

[@hamsitava1610]

Because east Turkey is ethnically kurdish or zaza.

[@farelervehomosapiensler]

Thank you for your accurate and unbiased presentation. Good luck, you are the king man.

[@greatheightsu]

I love these country profiles. So interesting.

[@luciano3270]

the neighbors resemble each other in the culture gastronomy habits etc, greetings from the Balkans Romania.

[@okanu.407]

also regions might have different accents :) for example my hometown locate on west black sea region but i live in İstanbul , if i speak my accent in İstanbul most of people won't understand what i am saying even my close friends won't understand clearly, because in my hometown and around towns , we speak so fast and might change words, example for words ; in istanbul people ask like -Ne yapıyorsun ? (what are you doing?) but if i use my accent i just ask - Naptıy? this also has same means with Ne yapıyorsun? but not everyone can understand it is an accent. it might also hard even for us :D the factory i work in, people mostly from europa side of turkey , and they use *kızan for say *kids , that was new for me because in my hometown we use *uşak for it :D like my mom calls me *uşağım - *my boy or my son but guys in factory calls their kids *kızanım which also same means with uşağım but just different region and accent :) sorry for my grammer mistakes :D i hope you can understand what i mean

[@sallycoop935]

Okan, fyi ”kiz” means girl. Çocuk means child and socuk means sausage. Be careful what you call peoples children

[@okanu.407]

@@sallycoop935 i am not saying *kız :) i am saying *kızan , people on Balkan area use it for *child/kid , just like my region , we use *Uşak for kid/child , we all know what çocuk or kız means :) we use those words always but we also have different words from different accents. And i don't get how did you pop up with sausage LoL i didn't even say anything about it 🤣

[@sallycoop935]

@@okanu.407 I see. Thank you for the lesson. About çocuk and sucuk. I thought it rhymes. Like çicek and çilek flower and strawberry

[@yigitpasaa]

Best video I have ever watched about Turkey. Greettings from Turkey :)

[@speediestt]

Very accurate information!

[@beyz8332]

Actually "%99 muslim" is a wrong information. As a Turk I am pantheist but my identy card says I'm a muslim and many many people have the same problem

[@slavkopolskiperun5358]

God bless you! Kunefe is the best, I love you! From Poland-Warsaw.

[@beyz8332]

@@slavkopolskiperun5358 god bless you too my friend

[@masterc2091]

@@beyz8332 Which god? You don't believe in a god.

[@flapsup7548]

First of all, everyone should know very well, other countries have too many prejudices about Turkish people, we never have bad judgments against other beliefs, countries, faiths and thoughts. We have endless respect and love for everyone. Anyone who has come to Turkey or met a Turkish people, knows that very well.Although our culture is not very similar to Europe, in today's world our way of thinking and our lives are definitely closer to Europe than the countries in the east. If you ask someone in Turkey, they keeps themselves away from eastern people. Our education system, family lifes, sense of fun and whatever comes to mind, everything is exactly the same as in Europe. For hundreds of years, we lived peacefully as neighbors of all ethnic origins and beliefs, faiths. We will continue to live that way.

[@esmadura1264]

Avrupa gibi düşünmek, Avrupa gibi hareket etmek medeniyet değildir, doğu gibi düşünmek de gericilik değildir.

[@flapsup7548]

@@esmadura1264 kimse böyle bir şeyi savunmadı zaten :)

[@ViLLaPar0s]

Very peacefully, with an Armenian genocide recognised worldwide.

[@flapsup7548]

@@ViLLaPar0s not genocide, just armenian bullshit. throw dirt enough, and some will stick :) btw hello to you armanian brother .

[@ilbilgehatun278]

@@ViLLaPar0s Stop acting like a loser under every comment, Greek! The world and people are improving but you are still bigoted, humiliating your race with your cancerous and offensive ideas. Go back to bed and stop spreading your lies, stop lobbying here.

[@johan_johansson_]

Tusen tack, Paul 👏🏻

[@aliosmanterlemez5848]

Nice vid!

[@ogtum8633]

As a Turk, I see my country as Central Asian with European and Middle Eastern influence. Many different cultures have influenced since we left central asia, but I can say we are both ethnically and culturally 70% central asian, 15% middle eastern and 15% european.

[@y.p.9797]

It depends on the region from which you come from...Turks from west turkey barely have central Asian dna. A Turkish professor has published a research about the Turkish dna. According to him, most of the Turks if not all of them have greek, armenian etc dna.

[@Atilla33]

@@y.p.9797 The Turks of the Aegean region have a high percentage of Central Asian Turks what are you talking about lmao

[@y.p.9797]

@@Atilla33 Turkish moment

[@y.p.9797]

@@Atilla33 you won't find Muslims in all Islands and most of them are greeks whose ancestors converted to Islam. They have muslim names but greek last names.

[@buritekin429]

@@Atilla33 All Turks are Turks not European or Middle East but Turks of Central Asia. They just want to separate you from your blood brothers of Central Asia because together we can create something great like we did it before in our history. Turks must be Turks! I am Uzbek that means Turk of Central Asia and we are proud to be with our brothers from Anatolia.

[@biroldayi]

As a Citizen of Turkıye and a Turk, I feel myself as an Asian but living as a European in Istanbul, loving sincer and kindness of Middle East and Mediterranean (and of course Aegean). I can say we are simply a mixture because of our unique geography.

[@misterpikes7600]

Well life in Istanbul is not what i would call European, i cant imagine how it is in the deep asian regions

[@nikosnikos8184]

sorry Aegean is a Greece sea and greece name .

[@biroldayi]

@@nikosnikos8184 an answer is not necessary

[@ayhancan7169]

@@nikosnikos8184 i agree with you as a turk. Eagean is a greek sea for greeks. But it is just a LAKE fot turks. We have enough seas like black sea and mediterranian..

[@sallycoop935]

Ayhan, the mediterranean is not yours. It belongs to many states. About the Ege and its ilands. Yes it belongs to Greece. In the black sea you have to coexist with the mighty Russia. But dont worry. You Turks are people of the steppes.

[@ayhanokcu]

Paul , you again 😊💪

[@rockyTan]

İ have to mention that this channel is sooo good 👍🙌

[@GEOfocusChannel]

Thank you! 🙂

[@appleborn]

There are three bridges in istanbul for across the bosphorous. But all three are for vehicles. You can walk on one of them just on the marathon days.

[@ornitorenksever4983]

Ayrıca iki tünel

[@nenenindonu]

Roman Constantinople today isn't really Istanbul but just a district of it called 'Fatih'

[@GEOfocusChannel]

That's normal. All cities grow beyond their historical boundaries like that.

[@revinhatol]

Barbs from Geography Now would be impressed on how you cover this country!

[@sandraagungagung9356]

I like the way you explained it, this is good for people like me who does not know about Turkey, the history is important , to know whom they belong.

[@nesli1600]

Thank you for this video, it’s a good introduction for Turkey. As a Turk, i can say that until the last 4-5 years we never called ourselves in the Middle East. I guess it started with these immigrations from Middle East. We normally call ourselves in Europe or Eurasia. Also we look like in Europe in every competition or championships. Unfortunately It’s really difficult to explain for us Turks. 😄🧐

[@sallycoop935]

It is more difficult to explain for us the non Turks. You dont belong to Europe

[@fahid3342]

Turkey is not European

[@sallycoop935]

@@fahid3342 i agree

[@sythe5579]

@@sallycoop935 Who declares whether we are European or not? He is European living in the west of Turkey and Asian living in the east. It's that simple

[@mertnecati875]

Turkey is unique on its own. This geographical bordering of Europe and Asia is strange when it comes to Turkey anyway. With this strange logic, Armenia is Europe for geographical reasons but İzmir or west coast of Turkey not. This region is much more European than many Balkan states and north Greece. I am thinking of Muğla (Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye, Kaş, Akyaka) or Aydın or Antalya in south... Even Ankara in middle itself is much more vibrant than many Eastern European capitals, close to Ankara there is Eskişehir on west, a student city also has nothing to do with Middle East visually or ideologically. So Turkey is Turkey. As I Turk I am just amazed and glad each time I see such variety. We Turks have a sincere opinion and knowledge on Iran per se, we dont look at it as a regular European does. But we also have an opinion on west different than the ones in east. This is a unique advantage. We can observe everything, enjoy all. This is reflected in our culture, cuisine, music and even bird species and fauna. Yes, this beautiful land is really a bridge.

[@davidscwimer1974]

The reason why Smyrna and Halicarnassus and places in Asia Minor feel European is because they where founded by Greeks …

[@mertnecati875]

@@davidscwimer1974 Right yes? Do you want me to count places from Middle East and Turkey where there is no European style of life and founded by Greeks? Your comment is quite irrelevant: "Halicarnassus", Bodrum was still a village zone in quite bad condition with very few population by 70s. Had few importance for Byzantines or Ottomans also. It got popular in 70s among young people (mostly hippies and artists of Turkey at the time) and realized by state later on as a tourist hub. İzmir, my hometown on the other hand was ever a multicultural city anyway. This was sustained and reached to its peak during Ottoman period. Other Turks came here after Exchange were mostly from Selanik, so their ancestors were already among Turks of Europe.

[@davidscwimer1974]

@@mertnecati875 the Greeks only left Smyrna after the burning of the city in 1922 .. it was predominately greek and thus was more European than an average Turkish city … simple

[@mertnecati875]

@@davidscwimer1974 The city had minority Rum population, in fact less than the ones of İstanbul but followes it as second. You can ask me the sources for number of cencuses conducted throughout history until 1923. Ankara was a town had zero Greek influence and very few Rum population before and it is the city where you see greatest of theatre/literature, some nicest bar life, and most successful universities of Turkey. It was only founded in 1923 as a municipality. İstanbul also was only consist of what is known as Fatih distrixct of today to Byzantines. It was the Turks turned it into a prosperious place again. Many of the most "European" regions of İstanbul are established after 60s. Your arguments getting funnier.

[@davidscwimer1974]

@@mertnecati875 According to Katherine Elizabeth Flemming, in 1919-1922 the Greeks in Smyrna numbered 150,000, forming just under half of the population, outnumbering the Turks by a ratio of two to one. Ouch 😢 erdogans university suck mate .. go educate yourself

[@el.grantelbart]

cheers mate

[@Hakan-jc9bu]

As a Turk,thank you for informative great video Paul. Take care..

[@otemporaomores9472]

I am not sure if we are Middle Easterners, but I know that we don't get to be Europeans just by calling ourselves so. Besides the terms like "Europeans" or "Middle Easterners" are so broad that it is not possible to make any political or cultural sense of them. We are taught that the Bosphorus is where Europe is separated from Asia. But I remember a few other examples from other countries putting themselves at the continental border. 1. I once watched a video of Slavoj Zizek on a bridge in the city of Ljubljana. He was calling the bridge as a point of reference to separate Europe from the "East". 2. In the novel "Ali and Nino", the author Kurban Said refers to the city of Baku as where Europe ends and the East starts. 3. I've had the opportunity to read the draft of an aspiring Ukrainian writer's novel on the war in the Donbas region. The writer was referring to the tragedies as "occurring in the heart of Europe". I think our definitions depend heavily upon how we want to see ourselves.

[@nfiautopia2066]

I enjoyed your video as a turkish:) I don't see turkey as a part of either middle east or europe. We are eurasian, we have a mixed culture that is exclusive to only Turkey. You can feel balkan, caucasus, Mediterranean, central asian and middle east cultures here. I don't think we should pick 1 side. Also, that 99% muslim rate is official but not correct. People are automatically recorded as muslim when they're born just like how they're recorded as turk. But in reality that number is much lower. Thanks for the video!

[@mobo7420]

I've lived in Turkey for about a year now and found this quite factual (I didn't find any mistakes!). Also your pronunciation of place names was quite good. I usually don't think about whether the culture is "Middle Eastern" or something else. My wife is Turkish but of mostly Eastern European descent and describes herself as "Eurasian". some more fun facts about the country: - the Black Sea Region also grows tea and hazelnuts, and tea is really popular in the country - you said that Gaziantep is where pistachios are grown. they are in fact called "Antep nuts" in Turkish - I would never walk over a Bosphorus bridge. not sure it's even possible for pedestrians. besides the ferries there's also a metro train that goes underneath it (I think from Üsküdar in Asia to Eminönü in Europe) Greetings from the Asian side of İstanbul!

[@kumpir8260]

Good job friend . You did a great job appreciate you . Thank you . By the way I am from Turkey

[@semiautosniper6989]

When I'm in Turkey I go to 2 places Izmir and Konya. I see Izmir as someplace very hot and a lot of beaches if you like going to Spain I would recommend Izmir (West) and mostly tourists are there. Konya (Central) is a big city when I'm there I don't stay too long, I mostly go and visit Family. But it's A great place if you like history and shopping.

[@MrBabyBlue1993]

I was in Konya and Izmir ,Izmir is very modern city ,i loved it

[@Sultan_Baybars]

Two poles of Turkey

[@omerfaaruk]

We see our country as a center of the world, not a part of anywhere that defined by others. 😉

[@nicolenew1708]

THANK YOU

[@daremoinai663]

thanks a lot for the grand definition of turkey, geographically that many people are generally mistaken as you said :) great effort! regarding to your question, I think not European and not middle eastern too :) but definitely, something in between that makes Turkey and Turkish people unique.

[@HaiderAlZubaidi]

Love you Turkey 🥰 Greetings from Baghdad, Iraq

[@sallycoop935]

Haider, your love is in vain. The turks dont wish to be linked to you Arabs

[@HaiderAlZubaidi]

@@sallycoop935 Most Iraqis are largely ethnically Turkish, I have 81% Turkish in me, and many Iraqis have the same. As for Arabs, what Arabs you’re talking about exactly, there are so many types of Arabs, the gulf Arabs are so different than us and the Lebanese and Syrians, North African Arabs are different as well

[@sallycoop935]

@@HaiderAlZubaidi Of course the Arabic world is diverse. But i was surprised by the fact that how many turkish people underline that the turks are not to link with the arabs. Strange

[@atkatk9355]

@@ozgurruh6002 Other comments included racism Don't contradict yourself, :)

[@AFBLYS]

In Turkey, officially everyone except non-muslims are registered as muslims but the irreligion ratio has reached 20-25% of the population nearly and this phenomenon goes on. The religion issue has been already declining like Europe in which this had started 2 centuries ago…

[@rumeysaongul4765]

That's a bit of a stretch though. 20% of Turkey equals roughly about 17 million people. It seems kind of unlikely for irreligion to go as high just in a matter of years.

[@AFBLYS]

@@rumeysaongul4765 sorry for the muslims, but their Islam is declining. I’ve got no role in this subject. This is a sociological issue. Of course, the figures are subject to be confirmed but the numbers are shady because of the islamist government fear. People hesitate to declare their religious beliefs on surveys…Greetings from Berlin 👍✌️

[@rumeysaongul4765]

@@AFBLYS Oh I get what you mean. What I was trying to say, is a bit different though.Turkey has as much of a population as Germany, and throwing large percentages like 20%-25% equals to tens of millions of people, which honestly isn't the case with the decline of Muslims in Turkey. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of Secularists who still actively and openly practice Islam. Although I can't deny many Muslims in Turkey became Atheists or Agnostics, especially in these recent years. It's not about the goverment or what party someone roots for (in fact, all of the current political party leaders claim to believe in and practice Islam to a degree no matter if they're right-wing or left-wing), but more about especially urbanized younger generation's tendecy to Westernize in a way. Again, what I'm trying to say is, I know what you mean, but the percentages stated are highly unlikely due to the population of Turkey and the short period of time this has been continuing for. Even saying 5% of Turkey is irreligious equals about 4 million people. I hope my point has also been clear enough now. Greetings back from Istanbul!😊

[@rumeysaongul4765]

@@AFBLYS Also, are you really feeling "sorry"? If so, please don't. One's religion is their choice and their choice only. I myself am a Muslim and even though people in Turkey have this change I don't really like, it's their choice and will be respected.

[@AFBLYS]

@@rumeysaongul4765 greetings from Berlin, from an old mixed Arab, Turkish, Romanian atheist gay guy, born and raised in Turkey. Sevgiler kardeşim ❤️❤️❤️

[@siyacer]

Impressive

[@iskambillordu]

3:55 a little correction. There was 32 provinces when turkey formed. That number changed according to population. 81th province is formed in 2008.

[@pinklazania]

I am from Turkey and I think it depends where you are. I think cities like İstanbul, İzmir, Muğla Antalya are more european than cities like Şanlıurfa, Konya, Kayseri . It depends where you are. So I would say as a whole Turkey is its own thing.

[@yavuzsultanselim4581]

Not Turkey. *Türkiye

[@furkancan5219]

exactly this

[@MrBabyBlue1993]

I agree , Izmir is very european ,konya is nothing alike ,loved both cities

[@omeraktas4821]

@@yavuzsultanselim4581 dude you're in every comment hahaha stop this, youre annoying. and tbh no one cares

[@merrynw4827]

Şanlıurfa ile Kayseri aynı tutanda ne bileyim. İzmir şehir yapısı olarak hiç öyle değil. Çok geri kalmış belki yaşam şekli olarak öyledir.

[@alicem1150]

Firstly, thanks that successful video. As a turk, i want to answer your question. At least since Sultan Mahmud 2, elites and administrators of turkey want to make it the part of europe and to place european institutions and values. Althought he had fighted against euopeans, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the most successful at this goal. I think the most powerful work of his is secular population of turkey whom created, but this population is not vast majority unfortunately. So we are not part of europe but our modernism history made us some european. Secondly, we are not middle eastern. Even in the premodern era we were different from arab countries. Our folk culture is more moderate and pragmatic than arabs'. And also non-modern population o turkey is still different than middle east, but unfortunately some religious part of our population has radicalised for some decades. So there is also middle easternisation in turkey. I think we are anatolian. Nor european neither middle eastern. And also we should synthesize the fine values of anatolia and social liberal values.

[@starcapture3040]

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the most successful at this goal? in what exactly so Dose Dubai is part of Europe now? it is more westernized then all of turkey

[@alicem1150]

@@starcapture3040 modernism means self worth and self esteem. Turkish modernism provides secular rights to muslim women and children. Muslim people of Turkey are not obliged to Sharia. For example, In all emirates, it is illegal for Muslim women to marry non-Muslims. Emirati women must receive permission from a male guardian to marry for the first time or before age of 25. We Turks surpassed legally such primitivenesses.

[@starcapture3040]

@@alicem1150 Alcoholism, Gambling, Naked women, prostitution, Materialism, Jewish hats, racism and fascism, Cult personality, Military rule, one party dictatorship, changing holidays from Friday to Sunday changing the alphabet to the Latins of the catholic church literary language to make the whole nation ignorant about its history. I don't see modernism but abomination. also what the hell are you talking about. Dictator Mustafa Kemal didn't allow women to divorce copying European Christian laws then revoked it to divorce his wife who was under house arrest for the rest of her life. so Turkish girls marry the way they like without letting their families know? I don't see modernization I see backwardness in here.

[@sallycoop935]

Tell us about the genocides.

[@alicem1150]

@@sallycoop935 do you want to know mora massacre or massacres during the Balkan wars against Turks? Or massacre in Antep and Maraş by French and Armenians? Or Cyprus massacre of Turks by eoka-b?

[@eylul7809]

A well-prepared video, one must say. So, to the question: We're Eurasian and I have no idea why people seem to be struggling with this. There is absolutely nothing wrong with belonging to a unique culture which is a mixture of two different worlds so to speak. I personally affiliate myself both to my central Asian roots (with our traditions) and to Europe as I was raised accordingly. BTW thanks for clarifying the climate situation because now I can directly redirect the people to this video when they ask me about the camels.

[@sipihrin]

thank you very much to give people rexact information. bay the way we are east in west😊

[@mustafamurataydn1084]

I am from Turkiye and I see my country nor European nor Middle Eastern. There is a saying about that. We are too east for Europe we are too west for Middle East.

[@sallycoop935]

… and you are too ? for your own good

[@zackleonard8559]

My friend was from the middle east but went to University at eastern mediterranean university in Cypress. He learned Turkish while he was there. edit: Cyprus, dyslexia strikes again

[@nxx33]

Amazing

[@sallycoop935]

Zack, cypress is a tree. Cyprus is an iland and Turkey has invaded Cyprus in 1974 and is occuping the northern part since. Much like Russia invading Ukraine.

[@zackleonard8559]

@@sallycoop935 thanks :)

[@sallycoop935]

@@zackleonard8559 its ok. you are in good company. I heard that the king and the crown princess of a european state struggles with their dyxlexia. About the meditteranian uni. in the northern part of Cyprus. Since only Turkey has recognised the northern part of Cyprus as a state What is a degree from that uni worth?

[@tumerucar8264]

Incredible video. Congrats on your hardwork at research because this video is not a copy paste. its so obvious that you made some real researches. Also as a Turk who is also half Arab i identify my country as a melting pot of both continents. Because if i were 100% Middle eastern for example Iranian, Arab etc. i would deffinetly have to adapt so many diffrent things. Also if i were European or from somewhere else i would also have to adapt so many diffrent things. We share both cultures. Also even only %3 of Turkey is at Europe. We have Bulgarian, Romanian, Greece and many other east european countries immigrants from hundred years ago. So not only the geograpy shares both continents. Also people share diffrent ethnicities too. So i might write a little long but there is no exact answer to your question :)

[@sakisgr1396]

Greeks were not immigrants to turkey greeks were actually natives for thousands of years before ottomans committed genocides and of course forcefully converted many to Islam

[@tumerucar8264]

@@sakisgr1396 ​ @Sakis GR Ottoman empire has existed more than 600 years and as you may think it had dozens of emperors and hundreds of high level commanders. Some high level commanders might tried to convert someone to islam but they are nothing more than exception.

[@sallycoop935]

600 years? thats nothing. The greeks has existed, flourish and build thousand of years. Under your 600 years you are destroying, and killing. About the exception. Untill 1900 there was 20-25% christian citizens i Turkey. In 1915 there was 3-5% christian cirizens. Lets let the numbers do the talking

[@tumerucar8264]

@@sallycoop935 Yes, You're pretty accurate about the numbers if we were killing non muslims and destroying everything there would not be 20-25% christians in ottoman empire in 1900. Also do you know how much land we lose in first ww? that christians were living in greece, balkans and some of them in armenia or georgia etc. They stayed at their countrty after we lose the control. Im not a extreme nationalist guy i can accept the wrongs that my countries history did. But theese mistakes can't go further than exceptions.

[@denizbastunali7863]

Great video Paul, thanks! However, as an Istanbulite, I must add that you can't switch continents on foot in Istanbul (05:08).

[@GEOfocusChannel]

You’re right, not anymore.

[@denizbastunali7863]

@@GEOfocusChannel It was never a possibility.

[@GEOfocusChannel]

I clearly remember footage of people crossing the bridge on foot. It may have been quite old footage though.

[@denizbastunali7863]

@@GEOfocusChannel You’re probably thinking of the Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn, another opening on the side of the Bosphorus, though still 100% in continental Europe. There you can cross between the historical peninsula (the old Constantinople side) and Galata on foot.

[@GEOfocusChannel]

@@denizbastunali7863 I see. That might have been the one.

[@leviathan4846]

1:27 Turkey is not %99 muslim. This should be %75-80. Thanks for video 👍

[@sunriseee2170]

Bu oran daha da düşüyor 😉🙏🏻

[@masterc2091]

Alevileride saymazsan daha düşük olur. Müslüman oranı bence %60 falan.

[@edanur586]

As a turkish, I don't mind what we stayed region of continents. Because We have been to many places from central asia to eastern europe. We chose Anatolia last and I'm glad we did

[@sallycoop935]

Dear Edanur i am curious. What is the meaning of the word anatolian in turkish? Or is it arabic like your first turkish alfabet

[@edanur586]

@@sallycoop935 Hi, In fact, this word has passed from the Greek to our language. A word used for these lands when we came here now means homeland for Turks. And the Turkish version of the meaning is like the combination of the words mother and full.

[@sallycoop935]

@@edanur586 in ancient greek and i guess in modern greek it comes from the words ”rise”, ”show up”.For example the rising sun

[@gladiusthrax4941]

Turkey is a crossing point. I have been there 4 times and visited 4 of the 7 regions. Incredibly fascinating place to visit and spend some time in. No mater what you love - beaches, mountains, history, food, night life... they have it in vast proportions. People are lovely and welcoming. No doubt, I will be visiting again