How the Republic of Turkey Was Born | IHP 6-5

The Rise of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the Birth of the Republic of Turkey is one of the most transformative periods in modern history. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish people faced total partition under the Treaty of Sèvres. This episode explores how Mustafa Kemal led a desperate resistance during the Turkish War of Independence, successfully driving out Allied forces from Anatolia.

We dive deep into the brutal Greco-Turkish War, from the shocking death of King Alexander to the decisive Turkish victory at the Sakarya River. You will also learn about the Chanak Crisis, a tense standoff with Great Britain that nearly sparked a global conflict and ultimately led to the downfall of British Prime Minister Lloyd George.

The story concludes with the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, which secured Turkey’s sovereignty and initiated a massive population exchange. Finally, we examine the radical Secularization of Turkey, where Atatürk dismantled centuries-old institutions like the Caliphate to create a modern, Western-facing republic.