Search Results for: Ottomans

Origin of Vampires: The Forgotten Roots of Vampire Myth in Turkish Folklore

The vampire myth is believed to have originated in the west by the great influence of popular culture. While witches and ghouls are popular in the East, the “vampire” is seen as a product of western culture. However, one of the biggest symbols of the vampire cult, Count Dracula, was also sourced from Vlad III, who was a prince that …

White Russians in Istanbul: Smirnoff’s Legacy and the Black Russian Connection

The First World War revealed a huge devastation that caused both the winner and the loser to face a great economic storm. Before the end of the First World War, Russia, in 1917, gave up and found itself in the middle of internal conflicts. On the one side were the Tsar and the defenders, on the other side, the communists. …

Exploring the Kamondo Family’s Impact on 19th-Century Istanbul

During the Ottoman period, there was a great deal of tolerance among people. Many individuals from different nations lived happily together, especially the Jews, who settled in Istanbul after escaping the oppression and inquisition in Spain. They made many contributions to the Ottomans in terms of culture, art, and economy. The Kamondo family was one of the families that brought …

From Silk to Rifles: The Epic Story of Turk–China Relations Through Time

The relationship between the Turks and the Chinese dates back to the early period of our histories. These two races have fought many times and have also engaged in commercial and cultural interactions. As the Turks became stronger and more powerful in the world after a certain period so the Turks began to put the pressure on the Chinese. China …

Exploring Istanbul’s Cinematic Legacy: James Bond’s Most Iconic Filming Locations

İstanbul is a strategic city that has for generations been the center of states and empires. After it has been conquered by the Ottomans, the city attracted attention not only with its political position but also with its works in historical and modern areas, such that over time, poems have been about on the city, songs have been composed about …

Discovering Istanbul’s Seven Hills: A Historical and Architectural Tour

Istanbul has a history of about 3,000 years. Throughout history, this city has been known by different names: Byzantium, Constantinople, and Istanbul. In 638 BC, the King Byzas came to the Sarayburnu region. The migrating Greek colony had settled here. The founder of the city, Byzas, gave it the name Byzantium. During the time of the Roman Empire (324 AD), …

Şırnak City Guide: Şırnak City Guide

Şırnak, which is located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, emerged as a city after being a town of Siirt, in 1990. It is home to Mount Cudi, which is believed to have hosted Noah’s Ark. The city has a history from 5000 BC. Since the Neolithic Period, the Assyrians, Urartians, Seljuks, and Ottomans inhabited the city. The city is surrounded …

Iğdır City Guide: Iğdır City Guide

Located in the easternmost part of our country, Iğdır has been a settlement for centuries and has attracted attention with its unique history. The city was built near Mount Ağrı and was used as a settlement by the Urartians, Sumerians, Assyrians, and Scythians before Christ. Later on, Persians dominated the city in the 7th. century, and it was then possessed …

Ankara City Guide: Ankara City Guide

Ankara, the capital of our country, can also be considered a capital for civilizations. The Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Galatians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans prevailed in Ankara, which has a history of 5000 years. For this reason, Ankara, which has always been in the central location of Anatolia, has continued to be a center of attraction and today …