How Ataturk Created Turkey | History Documentary

Ataturk - the man whose very name invokes strong mixed opinions. Some view him as a hero who forged a nation, whilst others see him as a traitor who sold out his culture and religion. Born at a time when the Ottomans were desperately clinging on to their survival, he would go on to fight for the Sultan in numerous conflicts including WWI. But from 1918 onwards, as he saw his homeland being partitioned by multiple powers, he positioned himself as a revolutionary nationalist leader. Against all odds he led the Turkish National Movement to victory and forged Turkey, a new nation that was born from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. During his presidency, he would give the Turkish republic a brand new identity; one that saw it pivot away from its Middle Eastern Islamic roots to one that embraced Modernisation and western ideals.

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Images Used:

Music Used:

Doug Maxwell - Arabian Nightfall (Sting):

If any of the images or songs are yours, please let me know I will amend them. Please don't report me straight away!

0:00 Intro
1:16 Soldier of the Sultan (1881-1918)
11:18 Fight For Independence (1918-1923)
22:53 Mustafa Kemal Becomes Ataturk (1923-1938)

[HikmaHistory]

Do you think Ataturk was a net positive or a net negative for Turkey?

[eternalsunshine]

Religion is not important in Turkey. Most Turks prefer a secular lifestyle. The rise of Erdogan isn't because of religion. It's because of his political charisma. He will eventually be forgotten, but Ataturk will live on as long as the nation does.

[Odyss]

We Koreans envy Ataturk.
He is a great leader like something out of a novel or movie.
It's funny how Islamists go out of their way to criticize such a great leader.

[balaton]

As an American kid taking history classes as a kid. When I was first taught of Ataturk, I was struck. What an amazing man. 40 years later I enjoy watching documentaries and things like that about him. To me, he is completely amazing in wonderful ways. Few have ever achieved so much in so little time. Again, amazing!

[laylaali]

He didn’t embraced western values he embraced modernism which came from collective human civilization

[BeratYukselBY]

Ataturk is one of the most important geniuses of the last century. Turkish youth is grateful to him. He brought the ruined country on the edge of the abyss to the brink of civilization. Even if we die one day, the names of our heroes like Atatürk will always live on. How happy is the one who says I am a Turk!

[samtech]

Kemal Ataturk defeated Greece, Armenia, France, Britain and there colonies like French Algeria, British India along with radical Muslims who were funded by Britain. He later created modern Turkey and Turkish people are grateful for all the reforms and his great vision. Kemal inspires us even today.

[alashiya]

So many negative comments about Ataturk by Turks in here but they seem to forget that Turkey would not exist without him.

[plutopluto]

A VERY proud to be a Turkish and a very proud of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and all his accomplishments!

[uzaydaisemekisteyenadam]

I need to right a wrong. Ataturk's father was not ethnically Slavic or Albanian. This nonsense is just disinformation created on Wikipedia. Atatürk's father and mother were both Yoruk. Do a search on what Yoruk means.

[Metehan-hmbm]

He is a visionary and far ahead of his time

[Boric]

Wow. That was well done. I would imagine a conversation with the Ataturk would be fascinating. With the benefit of hindsight it looks like when the Turks needed a hero they got one.

[Sahipkıran]

2:15
his father's descend goes to Kocacık Turkmens which are living in Konya. Most likely, this family settled to macedonia during rise of Ottomans period.

2:34 his mother wanted to send mustafa to "mektep" not "medrese/madrasa". Medrese is islamic high school. Mektep is islamic elementary school. Mustafa was a child in that period so he wouldn't go medrese.

23:49 that's right, he held power by undemocratic ways. Look at this issue from this way: He has big ideals and aims that never achieveble with liberal democracy.

30:47 he left afterwards these exaggerated theories.

32:50 all those rebellions are not concerned about kurdish nationalism or kurdish separatism. They were feudal lords, so they didn't like modern turkish state. They rebelled because of this.

[torceridaho]

i've been studying the Ottomans for over a year now. this was excellent. thanks so much

[the_london_boy]

as a Turkish citizen, my family raised me islamic way in my family no respect for ataturk, , but for me Ataturk is national hero, i m stand every reform he did for Turkey, , Ataturk will stay forever and we will protect Turkey staying secular, ne mutlu Turkum diyene, ,

[EmperorTetraObsessedPerson]

Atatürk was a great mind weak minds could not understand❤

[meltemOz]

Please don’t mis inform people that he was Jewish. He was of a Türkmen background. He had shut down the Masonic establishments. He believed in Islam and his Turkic culture and was very proud of it. He converted the Kuran into Turkish because his people didn’t speak or understand Arabic so he wanted them to know their wholly book and learn and respect its values. During the Ottoman rule less then 10% of the people knew how to read and write but after him majority knew. He was truly a genius and way ahead of his time. We as Turks were very fortunate and even the descendants of the Sultans admitted that if he had not existed Turkiye would not have existed today.

[fersaherez]

Check those who disrespect Atatürk on the comments. All of them has Arabic names.

[jaxellis]

Thank you so much for your work. Ataturk has always fascinated me and though obviously not perfect, seemed in a lot of ways like an aspirational beacon for this part of the world, though I'm sure others could and will dispute that. The time period you covered is also so rich in contrasts between the traditional past and oncoming modernity that it never ceases to boggle my mind. Understanding history is so important and your channel is a treasure. Thanks again!

[Spahbed]

The only ones who dislike him are butthurt islamists (most who happen to not even be Turkish), thats how you know he did something right.