The Genocide Before the Shoah
For a century, Jews in Turkey have maintained a strategic silence when it comes to recognizing the Armenian genocide. Could that be changing?
Teaching Citizenship in the Falling Ottoman Empire
In the nineteenth century, the state used a new education system to shape young citizens' attitudes toward a shrinking empire and the emerging Republic.
U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Turkey, pt. 2
This is not the first time the presence of American nuclear weapons in Turkey has been part of a crisis.
Style Tips from the Harem
When 19th-century American women visited Turkish harems, they came home with very different impressions than their male counterparts.
Turkey’s “Outsider” Threats
Ever since it was founded as a republic in 1923, Turkey has struggled with its so-called Kurdish issue.
The Secret Sign Language of the Ottoman Court
Deaf servants were favored companions of the Ottoman sultan, and their facility in nonverbal communication made them indispensable to the court.
How Coffee Went from a Mystical Sacrament to an Everyday Drink
The history of coffee starts in Ethiopia, where it grew wild. Locals used it as a sacrament in communal ceremonies and to keep up energy.
The Turkish Origins of the “Deep State”
The "deep state" idea of a shadowy parallel government, heard much in the news now, seems to be a concept borrowed from the Turkish experience.
Great Grains: How Ancient Einkorn Became the New “It” Wheat
Einkorn, an ancient grain, is mediocre for baking, difficult to process, and unproductive in the field. Why is it the next food trend?