In the 1500s, a sultanate on the island of Sumatra asked the Ottomans for help across the Indian Ocean. The trade routes, the pilgrimage to Mecca, and a red flag with a crescent all tie into the story. Swipe to see what happened. Did you know this story? #ottomanempire #indonesia

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his accompanying delegation attended the opening of the Turkic States Civilization Park on the sidelines of the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States.

Türkiye marks 103rd Republic Day with official ceremonies and nationwide celebrations commemorating the founding of the Republic on October 29, 1923. Celebrations in Ankara began with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and senior state officials visiting Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the Turkish Republic’s founder and first president Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, with streets, homes and public spaces adorned in red and white to commemorate the historic day.

8 children. 1 mother and 1 grandmother underway on camels and donkeys in remote Chad. The Arabe people of Chad are thought to have originally arrived in the country in the 7th century after crossing from Egypt, through Sudan, to get there. These days they make up one of the 200+ nomadic tribal groups that criss-cross the country each day on the backs of camels, cows, donkeys and horse-drawn carriages. They are normally incredibly shy with photographers and usually dislike us being in their world. Therefore encounters like this require careful attention, handling and kindness from someone who knows them well. When Arabs migrate, their whole homes are packed up on their livestock. The youngest children and animals, along with family elders who can’t keep pace, get to ride in fairytale boxes on tops of camels. Their movements are what initially drove me to plan this expedition in Chad. I have yet to set the dates for a future visit but if you are curious to join me please message me. #ingervandyke #wildimagesphototours #chad #nomads #arabe

🏛️ HARRAN: WHERE HISTORY LIVES BENEATH THE DOMES! 🌍✨ 📍 Harran, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye… A timeless land of history and culture. With thousands of years of history, distinctive architecture, and a rich cultural heritage, Harran is one of the most remarkable historical settlements in Anatolia. Its iconic domed beehive houses are not only architectural wonders but also precious reminders of the region’s deep-rooted history and traditions. 🏺🏡 🧱 Where Earth, Stone, and History Come Together! With their distinctive cone-shaped domes, Harran’s traditional houses stand out as remarkable examples of vernacular architecture. Built using traditional materials such as brick and mudbrick, these unique structures were designed to adapt to the region’s climate. Their architectural features help keep interiors cooler during the hot summer months, reflecting the ingenuity of generations who learned to live in harmony with nature. 🌿 Every Dome Tells a Story, Every Wall Preserves a Memory… Harran’s historic houses are much more than places to live. They represent the region’s traditional lifestyle, cultural identity, and architectural heritage, carrying the traces of the past into the present. With their timeless character, these extraordinary structures connect generations and offer visitors a glimpse into another era. 📸 An Unforgettable Destination for History and Culture Lovers! With its historic streets, earthy textures, and distinctive domes rising toward the sky, Harran offers a truly unique atmosphere for photographers, travelers, and cultural explorers. Every corner reveals a different perspective, showcasing the remarkable cultural richness of Şanlıurfa. ✨ Harran’s beehive houses are a legacy of the past, a treasure of the present, and a heritage worth preserving for future generations. Discovering our history, protecting our cultural heritage, and passing it on to future generations is a shared responsibility. Because some structures are far more than bricks and earth; they are the memory of a civilization, the identity of a region, and a living story connecting the past to the future. ❤️🌍 📍 Harran | Şanlıurfa, Türkiye 🏛️ Following the footsteps of history, discovering the heart of culture. #Şanlıurfa #Harran #HarranHouses #BeehiveHouses #HistoricHeritage #CulturalHeritage #AnatolianArchitecture #DiscoverTürkiye #HistoryAndCulture #TravelTürkiye #ExploreTheWorld #HiddenGems

In 1890, Sirkeci Station opened its doors — and Istanbul became the grand finale of Europe’s most legendary train journey. The Orient Express had already become a symbol of luxury travel. By 1889, trains could finally reach Constantinople directly from Europe. Then, in 1890, a new terminal opened at Sirkeci. Designed by Prussian architect August Jasmund, the station combined European railway architecture with Orientalist details and quickly became one of the great gateways into Istanbul. Imagine arriving here at the end of the 19th century. Porters carrying trunks. Horse-drawn carriages waiting outside. Travellers stepping into Istanbul after crossing Europe by rail. For us, Sirkeci is historic. For them, it was the beginning of a new age of travel. Would you have wanted to arrive in Istanbul here in 1890? AI historical reconstruction inspired by the period

SubhanAllah! ❤️ 👇 A Wedding That Brought Happiness to 100 Orphaned Children Asalamualaikum In Şanlıurfa, Türkiye, Muhammed and Fatma Çakmak chose a beautiful way to celebrate their wedding. According to Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency, the couple asked their guests to bring an orphaned child to the wedding instead of giving traditional jewelry gifts. With the support of guests and the İHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation’s Şanlıurfa branch, around 100 orphaned children attended the celebration. The couple said they were happy to share their special day with the children and hoped their decision would inspire other couples. ❤️ 📖 An Islamic reminder The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this,” and he held his index and middle fingers together. (Sahih al-Bukhari 6005) This hadith reminds us of the great virtue of caring for orphans. May Allah bless everyone who brings happiness to children and supports those in need. Ameen. 🤲 Disclaimer: The wedding details are based on reporting by Anadolu Agency. The hadith is cited separately as an authentic Islamic teaching. #SubhanAllah #IslamicReminder #OrphanCare #ActsOfKindness #IslamicStories Sources: (Anadolu Agency)

Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia have signed a defence pact named “Badr”. The defence ministers of Türkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia have signed a memorandum of understanding in Doha, Qatar, establishing a defence industry cooperation pact. The agreement covers joint production, research and development, and technical military training, with each country contributing its own military production capabilities. The aim is to bring existing projects into a wider framework involving all four nations. The name Badr means “full moon” in Arabic and may also be a reference to the historic Battle of Badr, a battle in early Islamic history fought during the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

İstanbul’un tarihi kalbinde, Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’nun asırlar boyunca yönetildiği **Topkapı Sarayı** ve sarayın görkemli ana girişi olan **Babüsselam (Selam Kapısı)**, gün batımının altın ve kızıl tonları altında muazzam bir manzara sunuyor. İki heybetli kule arasında yükselen şanlı bayrağımız, çiçeklerle bezenmiş bakımlı saray bahçeleri ve ortasındaki zarif fıskiye; imparatorluğun o köklü ihtişamını gözler önüne seriyor. Akşam güneşinin tarihi taş surlara ve bahçedeki renklere dokunduğu bu büyüleyici atmosferde bulunmak, insanı tarihin altın sayfalarında masalsı bir yolculuğa çıkarıyor. Bence dünyanın en güzel yeri burası. 🇹🇷 --- 🇬🇧 Standing at the historical heart of Istanbul, **Topkapı Palace** and its majestic monumental entrance, **Babüsselam (The Gate of Salutation)**, present a magnificent view beneath the golden and crimson hues of sunset. The proud national flag fluttering between two imposing towers, manicured palace gardens filled with vibrant flowers, and an elegant stone fountain highlight the deep-rooted grandeur of the Ottoman Empire. Experiencing this enchanting atmosphere as evening sunlight gently touches the historic ramparts offers a deeply inspiring journey through history.

The Malwiya Tower, a 52-meter-high spiral minaret with an anticlockwise ramp, is a notable architectural feature of the Great Mosque of Samarra, which was commissioned by Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil in 848 CE and completed in 852 CE. It was once the largest mosque in the world, spanning 17 hectares. It is primarily made of baked and sun-dried brick, with its design inspired by ancient ziggurats. The mosque was significantly damaged during the 1278 invasion by Hulagu Khan, with only the outer walls and the Malwiya Tower remaining unharmed. It is currently a component of the Samarra Archaeological City, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Recommended Readings: - The Monuments of Samarra: Historical Studies and Archaeological Writings by Alastair Northedge. - Early Islamic Art and Architecture by Jonathan M. Bloom. - The Art and Architecture of Islam 650–1250 by Richard Ettinghausen, Oleg Grabar, and Marilyn Jenkins-Madina (Yale University Press Pelican History of Art).