| Revision as of 10:34, 12 January 2007 editTajik (talk | contribs)11,859 editsm →Anatolia← Previous edit | Revision as of 10:42, 12 January 2007 edit undoBaristarim (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users28,782 edits rv, why are you removing Arabs and Iranian peoples???Next edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{POV}} | {{POV}} | ||
| '''Turkification''' is a term used to describe a cultural change in which something or someone non-] becomes (voluntarily or by force) Turkish. It can be used in contexts in connection with ], ], ], ], ], ], ]s, ]ns, ], ], ], ], ] and various ethnicities of the ] basin as well as the ]. The use of the term does not assert a denial of the existence of individuals who feel pride or are comfortable in their Turkishness, nor a questioning of their identity. | '''Turkification''' is a term used to describe a cultural change in which something or someone non-] becomes (voluntarily or by force) Turkish. It can be used in contexts in connection with ], ], ], ], ], ]s, ], ], ]s, ]ns, ], ], ], ], ] and various ethnicities of the ] basin as well as the ]. The use of the term does not assert a denial of the existence of individuals who feel pride or are comfortable in their Turkishness, nor a questioning of their identity. | ||
| == Anatolia == | == Anatolia == | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
| ] (modern day ]) has always been a ethnically diverse area containing many distinct peoples, ] and even beliefs. In 1071 the ] defeated the ] during the ], this lead to the eventual conquest of Anatolia by ]. | ] (modern day ]) has always been a ethnically diverse area containing many distinct peoples, ] and even beliefs. In 1071 the ] defeated the ] during the ], this lead to the eventual conquest of Anatolia by ]. | ||
| Shortly after the Turkic conquests of Anatolia ] had arrived in the region. Many Sufi orders sprang up (notably the ] and ] orders). Sufism quickly became very popular in Anatolia and many Sufi lodges quickly appeared across Anatolia. These lodges were based in places like ] and roads in isolated and ] places. Many people were attracted to this form of Islam (which incorporated Anatolian, ] and ] rites) and as a result many people from Anatolia had converted to ]. Adoption of Turkish identity usually followed conversion to Islam. ] noted that there were many non Turkish minorities in Anatolia which indicates that many areas weren't Turkified even as late as the 17th century.<ref>''Seyahatname'' By: Evliya Çelebi</ref> The invading Turkic tribes |
Shortly after the Turkic conquests of Anatolia ] had arrived in the region. Many Sufi orders sprang up (notably the ] and ] orders). Sufism quickly became very popular in Anatolia and many Sufi lodges quickly appeared across Anatolia. These lodges were based in places like ] and roads in isolated and ] places. Many people were attracted to this form of Islam (which incorporated Anatolian, ] and ] rites) and as a result many people from Anatolia had converted to ]. Adoption of Turkish identity usually followed conversion to Islam. ] noted that there were many non Turkish minorities in Anatolia which indicates that many areas weren't Turkified even as late as the 17th century.<ref>''Seyahatname'' By: Evliya Çelebi</ref> The invading Turkic tribes inter-mixed heavily with local populations and were by and large ] themselves, as most Turks west of ] exhibit Caucasoid features today, rather than Mongoloid.<ref name="Human Genes 2003">Ibid.</ref> | ||
| It is most likely that force was not used in most cases to Turkify these regions until the modern period and it should be noted that not all ethnic groups in the regions were Turkified. ], ], ], and the ], among others, survived Turkification, however, in smaller numbers with the exception of Kurds. | It is most likely that force was not used in most cases to Turkify these regions until the modern period and it should be noted that not all ethnic groups in the regions were Turkified. ], ], ], and the ], among others, survived Turkification, however, in smaller numbers with the exception of Kurds. | ||
Revision as of 10:42, 12 January 2007
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Turkification is a term used to describe a cultural change in which something or someone non-Turkish becomes (voluntarily or by force) Turkish. It can be used in contexts in connection with Kurds, Iranians, Bulgarians, Bosniaks, Albanians, Arabs, Roma, Georgians, Jews, Africans, Germans, Armenians, Assyrians, Poles, Greeks and various ethnicities of the Black Sea basin as well as the North Caucasus. The use of the term does not assert a denial of the existence of individuals who feel pride or are comfortable in their Turkishness, nor a questioning of their identity.
Anatolia
Anatolia (modern day Turkey) has always been a ethnically diverse area containing many distinct peoples, languages and even beliefs. In 1071 the Seljuks defeated the Byzantines during the battle of Malazgirt, this lead to the eventual conquest of Anatolia by Turkic tribes.
Shortly after the Turkic conquests of Anatolia Sufism had arrived in the region. Many Sufi orders sprang up (notably the Mevlevi and Naqshbandi orders). Sufism quickly became very popular in Anatolia and many Sufi lodges quickly appeared across Anatolia. These lodges were based in places like cross-roads and roads in isolated and mountainous places. Many people were attracted to this form of Islam (which incorporated Anatolian, Central Asian and Shamanistic rites) and as a result many people from Anatolia had converted to Islam. Adoption of Turkish identity usually followed conversion to Islam. Evliya Çelebi noted that there were many non Turkish minorities in Anatolia which indicates that many areas weren't Turkified even as late as the 17th century. The invading Turkic tribes inter-mixed heavily with local populations and were by and large assimilated themselves, as most Turks west of Central Asia exhibit Caucasoid features today, rather than Mongoloid.
It is most likely that force was not used in most cases to Turkify these regions until the modern period and it should be noted that not all ethnic groups in the regions were Turkified. Kurds, Zaza's, Talysh's, and the Laz, among others, survived Turkification, however, in smaller numbers with the exception of Kurds.
Armenians
Main article: Armenian GenocideIn 1915, Talat Pasha (Minister of the Interior), under Mehmed V, ordered the forced evacuation of hundreds of thousands—possibly over a million—Armenians. Over the next 8 years, it is estimated that over 1 million Armenians died as a result of the evacuations as well as mass killings, though there is no clear consensus on the exact number. Armenians as well as a number of Western and Russian historians claim that the event was an act of genocide. The Turkish government, as well as some scholars, deny this and dispute the numbers. During this period a number of young Armenians were given refuge by Turkish (and Kurdish) families and as a result of this most of these Armenians grew up without ever learning the Armenian language. When these Armenian children were integrated into their adoptive families they learned to speak Turkish (or Kurdish), and in the case of Muslim families to practise Islam. Other Armenians remaining in Turkey after the events, were pressured by the Turkish government to assimilate into the Turkish mainstream.
Kurds
Main article: Kurds in TurkeyThe Turkish government has, since its inception systematically sought to assimilate the Kurdish population of Turkey. From the birth of the state until 1991, the existence of a separate Kurdish identity was denied. During the 1930s and 1940s, the government had disguised the presence of the Kurds statistically by categorizing them as "Mountain Turks", denying their ethnic identity. According to CNN TÜRK, today there are media events as well as privately-sponsored education in the Kurdish language, although the general interest shown is rather limited. Some people believe that the closed Kurdish courses aren't because of lack of interest but because of so many years of restricting the use of the language—making it socially still not right and because the courses aren't economically well backed.
Pomaks
The Muslim Bulgarian community in Turkey is not recognized by the Turkish government as an ethnic minority and has been largely assimilated. The Bulgarian language is declining rapidly in usage and Turkish has largely replaced it as the first language even among those who primarily identify as Pomaks.
Greeks
Since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the Turkish backed government in control of the north of the island has been accused by both Turkish and Greek Cypriots of having pursued a policy of Turkification.
Black Sea groups
Georgians, Hamshenis and Laz live along the eastern Black Sea coastline. These areas have witnessed a considerable depopulation during the second half of the 20th century as many people have moved to the big cities of northwest Turkey. Assimilation within urban centres is high and the descendants of such emigrees typically lose all traces of their ethnic identity within the span of a few generations.
See also
References
- Seyahatname By: Evliya Çelebi
- Ibid.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4735171.stm
- Turkey - Linguistic and Ethnic Groups - U.S. Library of Congress
- http://www.cnnturk.com/TURKIYE/haber_detay.asp?PID=318&HID=2&haberID=114032 Kurdish courses close one after the other because of lack of interest, July 2005
- http://www.ozgurpolitika.org/2005/07/19/hab21.html
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/3309899.stm