The modern Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Atatürk was a military commander who led the Turkish War of Independence after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following World War I.

He abolished the Ottoman Sultanate and Caliphate, ending over 600 years of Ottoman rule.

Atatürk implemented a sweeping program of radical reforms to create a modern, secular, and Western-oriented nation-state.

These reforms included the adoption of a new civil code, the replacement of the Arabic script with a Latin alphabet, and the granting of full political rights to women.

Secularism ('laïcité') was established as a core principle of the Turkish state.

Turkey remained neutral for most of World War II and joined NATO during the Cold War, aligning with the West.

The latter half of the 20th century saw periods of political instability and several military coups.

In the 21st century, Turkey has experienced significant economic growth but also political controversies surrounding its secular identity and democratic principles.

Atatürk is revered as the 'Father of the Turks' and his legacy continues to shape the country.