Day 8: A Journey Through Time: From Ancient Bronze to Modern Republic

 By: Nate Martin 

Salem everyone! 

Today started bright and early with a departure from the bustling and beautiful city of Izmir along the western coast to the capital city of Ankara. With our suitcases packed and the weight of our contents triple-checked (because an overage fee is no fun), we headed for the airport around 7 am before the sun rose. We arrived in Ankara around 12 pm, grabbed our baggage, and headed for our coach. Due to the travel day, we only had one stop on the agenda, which Mike and Lynn made sure to point out was one of their favorite stops. 

There was no slowing down as we immediately set our sights on the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, where we would begin to understand the very beginnings of civilization, the formation of Turkish culture, and innate human development that spans eons. This recognition would quickly allow us to link our everyday thoughts and actions back to the discoveries that have served as a catalyst for the entire human race as we know it today. BUT, before I get into all of that and overwhelm everyone,  I want to share a bit of background that will set the scene as we enter the museum. 

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (1997 European museum of the year) 

The history of Anatolia, “Asia Minor”, or what we know as the Asian side of Türkiye, is defined by distinct technological and social shifts that transformed human lifestyle and chartered a path for the establishment of the Turkish Republic. In the Paleolithic age, our guide Saba described it as “A mission to find food and survive the night,” which simply meant that humans up to 12,000 BC were simply concerned with procreation and survival. Shortly after that, we entered the Neolithic age, which saw the introduction of written documentation, writing, and cultivation farming. No longer did man chase their food, but they carefully nurtured it, building dwellings and boundaries to keep a close eye on their property and their source of livelihood. 

Model of an early Neolithic dwelling

In terms of historical documentation, this was clearly an important development, as it laid the groundwork for humans to articulate thoughts and actions beyond what appears in the physical world, paving the way for more accurately recorded history and deeper intellectualism. This simply set the scene for all analytical thinking we are able to mindlessly take for granted today. A by-product of this was the introduction of religion, where humans now shared beliefs and traditions between one and another, in which they believed in a higher power and the “mother goddess”, paving the way for nearly all practices existing today. The Neolithic age also saw the introduction of mixed-metal production, which radically increased the complexity and efficiency of our tools. 

Class looking at early primitive “mother goddess” sculptures 

Between now and then came the rise and fall of the Dark Ages, where writing and documentation paused, and tensions across Anatolia increased. This led to a largely unaccounted gap in knowledge that any historian would kill to get a glimpse at today. 

Examining early recorded texts from the Neolithic age

As the modern age came into stride, Mustafa Kemal, “Atatürk”, the founding father of the Turkish Republic and a decorated military officer, became a prominent figure. He earned this title through both his military leadership and his ability to translate strategic battlefield victories into a lasting national vision. His rise began during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, particularly with his success at the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915. In this campaign, he distinguished the Imperial forces seeking to conquer the land and marked himself as a skilled and courageous commander in the face of adversity. This victory not only earned him military honors but also made him a symbol of resilience and hope at a time when the empire was collapsing, which granted him enough support to face the Sultanate that occupied Istanbul. During this time, Türkiye was also at risk of becoming a puppet state, as different European powers occupied the majority of the land. However, he and his relatively small coalition of supporters were able to morally wound the opposing European forces and discourage them from returning to the land. 

Views from the 1915 Gallipoli Campaign 

    Atatürk leveraged the failing empire and his immense popularity to spearhead sweeping political, social, and cultural reforms aimed at modernizing Türkiye. The goal was to align the country more closely with the European Union and modernize the nation into a contemporary utopia. He abolished the sultanate (who, ironically, now lives in Florida) and established a secular republic, while reforming the legal system and expanding education. As our guide, Saba, said, he not only promoted women’s rights but HUMAN rights, which indescribably stabilized the nation as he welcomed a considerable 70% of the population into the workforce. These reforms were not merely policy changes; they reshaped daily life and redefined what it meant to be Turkish in the modern world. 

Modern Istanbul today 

    To this day, the nation still unabashedly values this leader and his contributions in creating a sovereign and independent nation, which omits itself from international conflict and continues to pride itself on individuality and its complex past. Statues of Atatürk are seen in large numbers across the country, and the Turkish flag flies in shops, homes, and public spaces. These monuments of Turkish pride and history are not legally enforced but instead willingly displayed by the Turkish all over the country by his people to this day. 

Picture of Atatürk hanging in the museum. 

    The reason I write about this is that one of our readings for today’s museum stop suggested that national identity arises from the deliberate social construction of tradition, which, in turn, gives people a sense of belonging and place. It is made out to be a negative thing, as the article suggests; the validity of this is merely a facade to force people into allegiance. However, I think given the complex history of this particular nation and the continual fight against opposition uniquely permits the Turks to be rightfully proud of where they stand today. 

    After the museum, we boarded our bus amidst snow flurries and rush hour traffic, making it to our hotel, where we all fractured off and spent the evenings shopping, socializing, sharing a meal, and creating memories that I am sure will last a very long time. 

    Today was a great day, and I hope everyone who reads this has an equally memorable and special one as well. Güle güle!