Growing from European West to Asian East Turkey Growing from European West to Asian East

Objectives Understand how Turkey is spreading from the straits area eastward onto the Anatolian Plateau. Describe differences in physical geography between these two regions. Describe differences in the populations of these two regions. Explain the difficulties Turkey is facing as it tries to expand eastward. Discuss the instability of the Caucasus region.

Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, lies on two continents. Terms and Places Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, lies on two continents. Anatolia is a high, dry plateau that is most of Turkey’s land area. Black Sea is a large sea separating Europe and Asia. Europe Asia Minor is the large peninsula of Turkey. Asia Ottoman Empire was a realm once controlled by the Turks.

Europe Asia The green part of Turkey lies in Europe. The orange part lies in Asia. Asia Turkey is one of two countries that lie on two continents (the other is Russia). The story of Turkey is a story of a shift from Europe to Asia.

Turkey also lies on two major seas: The Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The Black Sea flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The waters of the Black Sea must flow between two narrow straits to get to the Mediterranean Sea.

The straits area tends to be a greener portion of Turkey.

Stop the film clip when it starts advertising the university.

The east is a dry, mountainous plateau called Anatolia.

Traditionally, these two narrow straits have been the center of the nation’s population. Turkey’s old capital was here, in Istanbul.

Today, Turkey’s population in Anatolia is growing. Cities in Turkey’s east are growing. The Turks’ modern capital is Ankara, which is in Anatolia.

1960 1980 2000 1990 2010 1970 1950 The population of a country does not stay the same. The United States had many babies after World War II. Numbers of people When a country goes through a period when their birth rate rises, it is called a “baby boom”. Ages of people A country that used to be full of young people is now full of older people. However, watch what happens as the baby boom gets older. Right now the United States is an “old” country. Turkey, however, is full of young people.

What can one learn from this map? The population of Anatolia is growing faster than the straits region.

The west is also home to Turkey’s minority groups. Not all of them are happy living in a country run by the Turks.

The desire of the Kurdish Separatists to have their own country has sometimes been expressed violently.

Turkey is a candidate to become a member of the EU.

Kebab Köfte – like little meat loafs; here, served with potatoes Stuffed grape leaves Gözleme – Turkish flatbread sandwich

What is the traditional center of Turkish culture and economy? Where is the population of Turkey currently growing? The straits between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea The straits between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea The high and dry Anatolian Plateau The high and dry Anatolian Plateau The far east dominated by Kurds. The far east dominated by Kurds.

Russia The Caucasian Isthmus is believed to be the ancestral home of the Caucasian People. The Caucasian region lies on an isthmus between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The Caucasian region has been occupied both by the Ottoman Empire of Turkey and the Soviet Russians. Caspian Sea Caucasians Black Sea Ottoman Empire The Caucasians

Three countries exist here: Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The north is occupied by Russia. However, there are many ethnic groups here. Mountainous terrain has kept people separate over the ages.

Like the Adriatic Balkans, some of the Caucasian region is Christian and some is Muslim. Parts of Georgia want to become independent. Russia is helping these ethnic areas rebel against Georgia. This part of Azerbaijan is fighting to become independent as well. This area wants to be independent because it is Christian, while Azerbaijan is Muslim.