Summary
Highlights
The video begins by discussing the establishment of the Türk Tarihi Tetkik Cemiyeti (Turkish Historical Research Society) in 1931, later renamed Türk Tarih Kurumu (Turkish Historical Society). Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emphasized that understanding Turkish history would empower the nation, challenging the Ottoman-era historical perspective that focused only on Islamic periods. He advocated for researching the 7,000-year-old Turkish history, including pre-Islamic periods and ancient Anatolian civilizations like the Hittites and Phrygians, to establish a national historical understanding and prove that Turks were not a 'barbaric' race. The society's first periodical was 'Belleten', which Atatürk himself named and was known to have read just before his passing. The first president of the Turkish Historical Society was Tevfik Bıyıklıoğlu, and Atatürk supported it financially through İş Bankası's revenues.
Following the historical society, the Türk Dil Kurumu (Turkish Language Association) was founded in 1932. Its primary goal was to elevate the Turkish language to a respected position among world languages without aiming for universal dominance. Key objectives included standardizing spoken and written Turkish and finding Turkish equivalents for scientific and artistic terms to free the language from foreign influence. The video debunks common misconceptions about humorous, exaggerated Turkish word coinages often attributed to the association. It highlights successful terms like 'bilgisayar' (computer) and 'buzdolabı' (refrigerator). The first president was Sami Rıfat Horozcu. The association's first congress on September 26, 1932, is celebrated as Language Day. Atatürk's 'Güneş Dil Teorisi' (Sun Language Theory) proposed that Turkish was the mother of all languages, encouraging extensive research.
Various other educational and cultural reforms were implemented. In 1925, the Ankara Law School was established to address the nation's need for legal professionals. Higher Institutes of Agriculture were opened. Halkevleri (People's Houses) were founded in 1932 as community centers, replacing Türk Ocakları. A significant reform in 1933 transformed Darülfünun into Istanbul University, assisted by German scholars fleeing Hitler's persecution, such as Albert Malche who prepared a crucial report. The Ankara Language, History and Geography Faculty was established in 1936. The Sanayi Nefise Mektebi (School of Fine Arts) dating back to the Ottoman era, was transformed into the Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi (Academy of Fine Arts) in 1928. The Topkapi Palace was converted into a museum in 1924, and the Ethnography Museum opened in 1927. In 1934, Hagia Sophia was controversially converted into a museum.
The video highlights important figures in Turkish music and arts. The 'Özsoy' opera, composed by Adnan Saygun, was watched by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Reza Shah Pahlavi. The 'Turkish Five' (Türk Beşleri) refers to five pioneering Turkish classical music composers: Cemal Reşit Rey (known for the 10-Year March and Lüküs Hayat), Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Hasan Ferit Alnar (known for Sarı Zeybek), Ahmet Adnan Saygun (the first state artist), and Necil Kazım Akses (known for the 50-Year March). Atatürk sent these artists to the USSR for their education in music, art, and culture rather than Western European countries, reflecting the geopolitical alignments and pragmatic choices of the time.