The flag of Turkey: east or west origins?

A white crescent moon and a star on a red background.

Called Ay Yıldız (« moon star ») or al sancak (« red banner ») in Turkish. Crescent and star, generally regarded as Islamic symbols = true here?

Complex origins: used in Asia Minor and by ancient populations in Sumerian and Egyptian states... The star and crescent moon were symbols relating to the Egyptian goddess Isis and also in Babylon and Mesopotamia.

Greek Goddess Artemis’ symbol was the crescent too, which could have been appropriated after the capture of Byzantium, then of Constantinople. Byzantium was the first city to use the cescent as an official flag...

It proves one thing: the region is a

multicultural

one.

Different perspective views:

What limits and constraints for Turkey’s integration?

What makes the EU an interesting challenge for Turkey?What is Turkey interested in?

What makes Turkey an interesting partner for the EU?What does it grant the EU with?

European?

Source: Encarta

The founder of the secular Republic of Turkey in 1923

Abolished the veiling of women

Adoption of the European-style alphabet

Economic development towards Europe

The western standards… First Turkish women MPs in 1935

8.9 %

(6.5% in 2000)

4,4 %10.5%Unemployment rate (2010)

17th 47th 5thTotal GDP world rank

0.722 (90th) 0.786 (56th) 0.893 (20th) HDI

$ 18,348 $ 11,443

2%

$ 36,453 GDP per capita PPP (2014)

EU GDP strength

76,6

(71 M in 2010)

20,166,6Population (Millions)

Turkey

780,500 km²

Romania

238,392 km²

France

550,000 km²