Istanbul and Turkey: A Primer

I'll start this off, and happy to answer any questions. This will be more of a primer with less details. So if you want specific restaurant recommendations, just ask.

(Photos are not mine; I'm not someone who takes many photos, apologies)

Let me preface this by saying that Turkey is an incredibly safe country, and the Turks are very kind people. That being said, many annoying Arabs live there these days and you can tell who they are.

Brief History:

Greek City States were conquered by Rome and were Roman from 275 BC until 1453 AD. First part of a unified Rome, then the Eastern Roman Empire. For over 1800 years, this Empire reigned (with ups and downs)

Early Christianity was truly formed in Anatolia (Asian Turkey), and is home to much of its early history.

When Constantine the Great moved the Roman capital from Rome to Constantinople (fmr Byzantium) in 330, is the beginning of the "Byzantine Empire". However, the Byzantines never called themselves such, they always called themselves Romans. "Byzantine Empire" is simply a modern scholarly way of differentiating the two epochs of Ancient/Classical Rome and Rome of the Middle Ages in the East.

In the mid-11th century, the Turks arrived. They began conquering, and finally took Constantinople in 1453

From 1453-1913, ethnic Greeks dominated European Ottoman lands, and Western Anatolia. Everything you see there is made by Greek-Ottoman subjects

As the Ottoman Empire was failing, they had a policy of Genocide for the local Greeks and Armenians and Assyrians (all Christians and roughly 40% of the population of what would be modern Turkey)

Turkey is a relatively new country. Founded in 1923 after they won control from the Ottomans, then a fight with the local ethnic Greeks and the Kingdom of Greece.

Once they had their Independence, the new secular government under Ataturk moved Turkey closer to Europe by separating Religion and the State. They also abolished the use of Arabic script and replaced it with a Latin Script

Food:

The food is absolutely amazing. Imagine the best of Mediterranean food (Greek/Lebanese) with a rustic quality added to it, and then the fact that it sat on the Silk Road. Flavors are off the charts.

Doner Kebab



Kokorec



Iskendar Kebab




Islak Burger (patty is actually kebab meat, and it is steamed in a red pepper-tomato sauce)



Fish Sandwich



Mezze (small dips and salads)



Pide




Baklava:



Turkish Delight