Turkish history is rich and diverse, beginning with the ancient civilizations that inhabited the region, such as the Hittites and Phrygians. Over time, the area saw the rise of powerful empires, including the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century, who laid the groundwork for the later Ottoman Empire. This empire expanded across three continents, becoming a major political and cultural force from the 14th to the early 20th century. The fall of the Ottoman Empire after World War I led to the establishment of the modern Republic of Turkey in 1923, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He implemented significant reforms to modernize the country, promoting secularism and nationalism, which continue