Turkish culture (art, literature, buildings, sports, music)

How did Turkish art evolve from nomadic life to post-Islamic miniature and calligraphy? How did the transition from the Göktürk and Uighur alphabets to the Latin alphabet take place? Did the caravanserai, madrasahs, and külliyes built by the Turks in Anatolia contribute to architecture? What warrior spirit do traditional sports like oil wrestling and archery reflect?

🎨 TURKISH CULTURE (ART, WRITING, BUILDINGS, SPORTS, MUSIC)

Turks have created a unique, rich culture across a vast geography stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia and Europe. This culture has continuously developed with the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to settled civilization.

Art and Writing

• Art: The origins of Turkish art are based on the nomadic life in Central Asia (animal figures, rug and carpet weaving). After the acceptance of Islam, architecture, miniature, tile art, and calligraphy (fine writing) came to the forefront.
• Writing: Various alphabets have been used throughout history, such as the Göktürk alphabet and the Uighur alphabet. The Arabic alphabet was adopted with Islam, and the Latin alphabet was accepted during the Turkish Republic period.

Architecture (Buildings)

• Central Asia: The first structures of the Turks were mostly tents (yurts) or temporary structures. After settling down, cities and monumental buildings began to be constructed.
• Anatolia: In Anatolia, during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, Turks made great contributions to architecture by building unique works such as mosques, madrasahs, inns, külliyes, and bridges (e.g., Süleymaniye Mosque, Seljuk stone carving).

Sports and Music

• Sports: Sports among Turks are closely related to warrior spirit and endurance. Wrestling (especially oil wrestling) and archery have traditionally been of great importance.
• Music: Music is an indispensable part of daily life and rituals. Traditional Turkish music has developed into two main branches: folk music and classical music (Turkish Classical Music). The main instruments used are; the bağlama (saz), ney, oud, and kemenche.

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