Is Turkey part of the Middle East or seen as Europe?

Answer 1

Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia

Answer 2

It has parts in Europe and Asia. The border between Europe and Asia runs through Turkey. I think of it more as a middle Eastern country though for the way they live. It's a muslim country isn't it. It still has the death penalty and that is why it isn't being allowed to join the EU.

Answer 3

It is a part of the Middle East but it is also seen as Europe due to the fact that the Middle East is (predominantly) contained within Europe and is not its own continent.

Answer 4

Middle East

Answer 5

A little of both really. There's a large Muslim population there, and physically, it's more part of the Middle East. However, a lot of the culture and history relates more closely to Europe. It was once connected to Ancient Greece, and the Ottoman Empire was very involved with European affairs. They are even trying to get into the EU.

Answer 6

It is both European and Middle Eastern, but it depends on the context you are looking at. Ethnically and Religiously it is considered Middle Eastern; however Culturally is it considered European. Geo-Politically however it is considered Middle Eastern, where as the country of Cyprus, which sits an hour South of Turkey IS part of the European Union. Turkey used to be part of the Greek and Roman empires. During the Dark Ages, Turkey was actually the Byzantine Empire, and the capitol, Instanbul is actually Constantinople. Unlike the rest of the Islamic world, Turkish culture generally practices and accepts that drinking alcohol is acceptable. Prostitution is also generally accepted in their society.Politically and religiously you could say that Turkey stopped being part of Europe during World War 1 when the Ottoman-Turkish empire tried to conquer and dominate Eastern Europe and started massacring Christians in the millions. The Turks sent millions of Armenians (from Armenia) who were Chrstian on death marches during the war. Right now, the reason Cyprus is split into two countries is because of Turkish meddling. Don't forget too that Greece was a controlled territory of Turkey until the 1980's.

Answer 7

Turkey has land in both continents. And our west part people are like Europeans but Anatolia is more near to Middle East.

As a Turkish who lives in Istanbul, Turkey isn't a Middle Eastern but it isn't European too. We have our own culture. People can accept Turkey in Europe or in Middle East geographical but I think we aren't like Europeans or Middle Easterns.

Answer 8

The majority of Turkey is in Asia with a small part in the continent of Europe. The Galatasary or yellow bridge adjoins the european and asian sides of the country. However the Turks themselves are very pro western and do not follow arab traditions for example it is illegal to wear a veil or for a woman to cover her face on television.

Answer 9

This country actually connects the two continents, and one of the major religions is Islam. As it is not appart of the EU, I (personally) would say that it is not really European. I kind of hesitate to call it Middle Eastern, too. It's one of those is-it-or-is-it-not countries, like India. I've never known if that was supposed to be considered part of Asia or what?

Answer 10

I would say that Istanbul is seen as Europe (or at least a 'gateway'), but Anatolia as the Middle East.

I was told this several times in Istanbul: that it is a wonderful city (which it is) but that it is European: to see the 'real' Turkey, you have to venture far further into Anatolia.