The Shortest History of Turkey: From the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic

Shortest History

by Benjamin C. Fortna

From the Ottoman Empire to today’s authoritarian regime—discover the story of a nation caught between Islamic traditions and pressures to westernize

Through more than nine centuries of shifting borders, environmental change, and political evolution, Turkey has been a cultural melting pot and a nation-state bent on ethnic unity. It has seen conquest and reform, appeals to tradition and calls to modernize. It has been a home to Christians, Jews, Muslims, and more, and it has aggressively pursued both secularization and Islamization.

Built on the foundations of the Ottoman Empire—the most enduring, and perhaps the most important, Islamic empire in history—Turkey’s long, complex history is beset by political and religious turmoil. But the country’s national story also illuminates a rich culture developed over thousands of years, reflecting culinary diversity, artisan craftsmanship, and architectural achievement.

In this concise yet nuanced overview, historian Benjamin Fortna examines Turkey’s complex trajectory from ancient Byzantine civilization to modern republic, through to the present-day leadership by the populist, authoritarian President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In just 250 pages, Fortna reveals how opposing visions of Turkey have shaped its national identity and its people—and its place in contemporary history.

The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Middle East

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2026

Reviews

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shortest History of Turkey by Benjamin C. Fortna is a new entry in the Shortest History Series. The book is a concise overview of Turkey’s long arc from the Ottoman Empire to the modern republic. It explains how the country was shaped by empire, reform, nationalism, and the tension between secular and religious visions of the state. The book traces Turkey’s history from the rise of the Ottomans, who built a vast empire across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, to the empire’s decline and collapse after World War I. It then follows Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s creation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 and the sweeping reforms that tried to build a modern, secular nation. A major theme is that Turkey has long sat between East and West, both geographically and politically. The book shows how that position created recurring struggles over identity, modernization, religion, and authority, including the push and pull between secularism and Islamization. The book focuses on big turning points and long-term tensions that still shape Turkey today. It also connects the Ottoman past to modern political developments, including the rise of more authoritarian rule in recent decades. The book provides an overview as a starting point and the author achieves their god. It’s an easy read.

#TheShortestHistoryofTurkey #NetGalley #TheExperiment

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This book is a comprehensive history of the formation of and the modern state of Turkey. It traces the Byzantine era through the Ottoman and all the various and many changes in between.

It explains that modern Turkey has gone through a great many changes since its origins. But I was unaware of all of the changes that it went through to modernity. It has evolved into both a secular and Islamic state. It is unique in that way. I knew about Constantine and Byzantium of course, but learned so much more by reading this book.

I found the book very interesting and well written. It was easy to read and moved along quickly.

Mr. Fortna has also included an extensive bibliography for those who would like to explore Turkey’s history more thoroughly.

I want to thank NetGalley and The Experiment for forwarding this book to me so that I may review it. Any opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

[Iain Hawkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another entry in the "Shortest History of X" books, and with the usual shortcomings said books have - by their nature, there's only so much history they can fit into their, um, short page count.

Anyway, this is fine. TBH, things picked up for me when the book reached the 19th century - prior to that, it has to cover a lot of Ottoman history very quickly, which by its nature, means it can't go into much depth. With the 19th century, with elements such as nationalism, things pick up.

I found the book's take on Kamal Attaturk to be interesting. My understanding was that he's a revered figure in Turkey, yet according to the author, the reforms he pushed for (e.g. hyper-secularization) wouldn't be welcomed today by Turkey's population. What struck me about Turkey's fortunes from the 1920s onward is that the country seems to have been in a game of social ping pong. As in, you have Attaturk's reforms sending it one way, then it went the other way (Islamization) under Erdogan. Poetically, you could refer to Turkey being the crossroads between Europe and Asia, so maybe this back and forth fits, but I don't know if geography is destiny.

Anyway, it's an interesting read - nothing really wrong with it, but by its nature, it can't go too in-depth.

[Weronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title advertises, this is a short and well-written history of the formation of modern Turkey, from the Ottoman Empire to contemporary times. Despite teaching the cultural history of Europe, I rarely/never found books about the history of Turkey specifically (esp. contemporary/new ones) therefore, this is a welcome and needed contribution. I like how it's short and written in an engaging way which makes it suitable for the general audience that's just curious about Turkey & also suitable to be assigned for students as reading!

I thank Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Matt Galyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful primer on the history of Turkey. I enjoyed the second half of the book (modern Turkey) a bit more than the first, but I found the entire volume to be enlightening. I am glad there is a recommended reading section at the end as this book has made me want to read more about the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkish politics.

[Alicia Zhou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d probably need to read this 5 more times to fully understand all the details, but it felt like a wonderful introduction to Turkish history.

[Bobby Bookman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and quick read on the broad strokes history on an interesting country I knew next to nothing about

[Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super informative and felt very balanced. I learnt a lot and didn't feel lost at all, despite knowing very little about the history of Turkey.

[ishhreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shortest History of Turkey - Benjamin C. Fortna

When the book released without second thought, I wanted to know about Turkey. My knowledge of the country is very limited. Through travel vlogs and my favorite series, I happened to see about the country. It was quite beautiful, and what might be the history of this country behind it?

The Byzantine empire to early Ottomans and current political shaping have been largely discussed, that is, until 2023. Over nine centuries of change, the country has seen a cultural heritage. The early rise and fall of the Ottomans are quite remarkable in their history. I know only Faith Mosque that’s been restored in 1771. Turkey is about its secularisation and Islamisation in equal measure.

The author has quite a brief way to understand the ruling of the country in a nuanced way. The language was so clear and simple enough to make me feel the countries changed over the years.

If you are a history buff, then this should be on your radar to know the country's history.

[Loki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction, but as the title suggests, will leave you wanting more. And very much in the 'Great Man' mode of history (which, sure, is hard to avoid during the era of Kemal Ataturk, but the book as a whole is prone to this).