The Culture of Turkey

The meeting place of the Orient and the Occident, Turkey's unique and very strategic location has had an impact on almost every aspect of its vibrant, often mesmeric, culture. Turkish culture is a blend of various elements of the Oğuz Turkic and Anatolian, Ottoman which was itself a continuation of both Greco-Roman and Islamic cultures, and Western culture and traditions.

This unique blend is perhaps most visible in Turkish architecture, which juxtaposes Byzantine domes and minarets, Ottoman arabesques and Western skyscrapers with aplomb. Similarly, music is varied and tunes wafting through Turkish streets range from traditional, arabesque music to pop, rock and hip-hop.

Turkish literature was heavily influenced by Arabic and, especially, Persian literature during most of the Ottoman era and later by Western literary traditions. The clash of symbols is evident both in the themes and in the style of Orhan Pamuk, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. Turkish folk literature is an oral tradition deeply rooted in Central Asian nomadic traditions. Its thematic concerns include problems peculiar to a settling (or settled) people who have abandoned the nomadic lifestyle.

The most popular sport in Turkey is football while basketball and motor sports have also become popular recently.