A Promise to the Stars - Journey Begins: Chapter 2
Chapter 2 Istanbul was a beautiful city. Formerly known as Constantinople, the seat of the Roman Empire and Christianity in the East, it had kept itself strong throughout its 1,200-year history, despite going through numerous turmoils, sieges, wars, and natural calamities. With a long Ottoman history that saw an Islamic stronghold and one of the longest-lasting dynasties in world history ruling parts of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North Africa for more than 600 years, Istanbul had become a potpourri of Western and Eastern civilizations. When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk became the first President of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, after winning the War of Independence from the Allied forces, he created a vibrant democratic country, giving equal rights to both men and women and putting strong emphasis on education for every citizen. While the West was still fighting for women's rights, Turkey had already put in place a truly inclusive democracy. Turkey had one foot in Europe a...