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Subject:
Turkey is more Western than Europe realizes
swami
11/7/2004 4:17:15 PM
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Many Europeans seem to be opposed to an "Asiatic" Turkey joining the EU. While Turkey has clearly been heavily influenced by Islam, Arab and Central Asian culture, it has an even longer Western and Christian tradition.
From Alexander the Great's conquest in 333 BC until the Roman conquest, the area that is now called Turkey was heavily influenced by Greek culture. And lets not forget that the Roman Empire lasted in this area far longer than it did in the West. Until the battle of Manzikert in 1071, the area was ruled by the Orthodox Christian Byzantines, the successor empire of the Romans. And Constantinople did not fall until 1453. So "Turkey" was part of the West for 1400 to 1800 years depending on your definition. That compares to only 500 to 900 years of Ottoman Turk/Muslim influence. In addition, Ataturk accomplished a significant amount of Westernization after WWI. Turkey joining the EU would be reassertion of the status quo not a dramatic change as some believe. |
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