Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) and the Modernization of Turkey

Mustafa Kemal believed that the Ottoman Empire weakened throughout the sixteenth and twentieth centuries because of the religious restrictions. Mustafa Kemal became the leader of a new republic because of his surprising victories in several outstanding wars. When he started the nation, he believed it had to be a nation without special privileges or classes. He also believed it was a state of the people and by the people. Therefore, from that belief also came the belief that peasants are the real producers of the state.

The meaning of secular is to not be restricted by religious views. Mustafa Kemal had a very secular point of view. To look more traditional and modern, he made European hats replace the fez, women could stop wearing the veil, all citizens took surnames, and a western calendar replaced the islamic calendar. He also allowed freedom of religion in his country. Obviously he was effective because he recieved many praised from world leaders. Mustafa Kemal is a legend

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