Atatürk & Modern Turkey (from 1923)

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938) — military commander, visionary, revolutionary — is the most important figure in modern Turkish history. After the lost First World War and the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), he founded the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923, and implemented a radical reform program:

• Abolition of the Caliphate and the Sultanate — separation of state and religion (secularism)
• Latin alphabet instead of Arabic script (1928) — overnight
• Equality of women: Women's suffrage in 1934 — before France and Italy
• Western dress codes: Fez ban, hat requirement for men
• New capital Ankara instead of Istanbul — as a symbol of a new beginning
• Surnames: Only since 1934 have Turks had surnames — Mustafa Kemal received the honorary name "Atatürk" (Father of the Turks)

Atatürk is still revered in Turkey today: His portrait hangs in every public building, his bust stands in every village square, and insulting his person is punishable. On November 10, his death anniversary, the country stands still for a minute of silence at 9:05 AM (his time of death).

Turkey after Atatürk underwent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980, failed 2016), economic crises, and political tensions between secularism and Islam. Since 2003, the AKP under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has fundamentally changed the political landscape. For travelers, political discussion is a sensitive topic — respect and restraint are advisable.