A Brief History of Turkey

How did a tribe of nomads turn into a powerful empire that dictated its will to three continents? Historian Benjamin Fortna's book invites you on an exhilarating journey through the centuries: from Osman I to the Golden Age of Suleiman the Magnificent, from the labyrinths of palace intrigues to the Republic of Turkey. This is a story of great triumphs and catastrophic mistakes, told in an accessible and captivating way.

The author recounts how Mustafa Kemal Atatürk built a republic from the ashes of a fallen empire and the social upheavals the country went through on its way to the present day. The book provides a key to understanding the Turkish mentality and modern politics and serves as an ideal guide to the destinies of great rulers and ordinary people who created one of the most vibrant and controversial countries in the modern world.