Schiavone

= ﻿ TURKEY = = ﻿ =

**//[|Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices]//**. Ed. Thomas Riggs. Vol. 3: //Countries: M-Z//. Detroit: Gale, 2006. p474-480.
 * __**Major Government**__
 * Turkey is a republic. It provides for a parliamentary form of government that includes a president, a prime minister and cabinet, and a legislature called the Grand National Assembly.
 * __**Major Religions**__
 * ====**sinni islam**====
 * __**Languages Spoken**__
 * Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Circassian, Greek
 * __**Current leader or president**__
 * **Abdullah Gul**
 * **__Brief history of the country including any important people and major wars__**
 * **The Seljuk Turks** became one of the first Turkic peoples to rule in what is now Turkey. During the mid-1000's, they conquered Persia (now Iran) and Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and invaded Syria, Palestine, and Anatolia. The Seljuks destroyed most of the Byzantine power in Anatolia by defeating the Byzantine army in the Battle of Manzikert. Christian troops defeated the Seljuks in western Anatolia.**The Young Turks** group led a revolt against Abdulhamit
 * __**Currency**__
 * Lira is a unit of money in Turkey and comes from the Latin term //libra,// meaning //pound.//
 * __**Major cultural traditions (holidays/foods etc..)**__
 * Wheat bread is the chief food of most people in Turkey. Other common foods are rice, vegetables, and lamb. In villages, a meal often consists of //bulgur// (cracked wheat) and yogurt, along with fruit, vegetables, and bread. Turkish cooking is especially famous for //shish kebab,// which consists of pieces of lamb, tomatoes, peppers, and onions cooked together on a skewer. People also enjoy //borek,// a flaky pastry stuffed with meat or cheese. A popular dessert is //baklava,// made of thin layers of pastry, honey, and chopped nuts. Another pastry, //kadayif,// is made with shredded wheat. Favorite beverages in Turkey include tea, thick coffee, and a liquor called //raki,// which is flavored with anise.
 * __**Climate**__
 * The south and west coasts of Anatolia have mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.The south and west coasts of Anatolia have mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.
 * __**Population**__
 * **67,308,928 people**
 * __**Geography**__
 * Turkey is a Middle East country that lies both in Europe and in Asia. Turkey borders Bulgaria and Greece on the northwest; Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran on the east; Iraq and Syria on the southwest. The Black Seas lies to the north, the Aegean Sea lies to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea lies to the south.
 * __**Major Resources**__
 * Turkey is rich in mineral resources, but the mining industry is largely undeveloped. The country's most abundant mineral is coking coal, which is used in making steel. Turkey is one of the world's largest producers of chromite, the mineral from which chromium is obtained. Turkey is also a major producer of boron. Other minerals produced in Turkey include bauxite, copper, iron ore, and //meerschaum,// a soft, white mineral that is used to make jewelry and tobacco pipes.
 * Except for coal and hydroelectric power, almost all of Turkey's energy is imported. Several large refineries process imported oil. Natural gas imports have been growing. Natural gas has been replacing coal in heating urban buildings, helping to reduce air pollution.
 * **__Major tourist attractions and or historical sights__**
 * The Northern Plains, The Western Valleys, The Southern Plains, The Western Plateau, The Eastern Plateau, The Northern Mountains, The Southern Mountains, The Mesopotamian Lowlands
 * __**Median Family Income**__
 * Turkey has a developing and rapidly changing economy. The western and coastal regions of Turkey are wealthier than the interior and the eastern areas. Also, cities are richer than rural areas. The government has long been heavily involved in many aspects of Turkey's economy. The government has owned much of the country's transportation and communications industries, and it has controlled other industries as well. However, private companies have become increasingly important. During the late 1980's, the government began a program to reduce its control of industries and to allow more private ownership.
 * **__Work Cited__**