Turkish exports plunge nearly 40 percent in May to $7.3 billion

European Capital of Culture 2010 “Istanbul” – Turkish exports dropped 39.97 percent to $7.3 billion in May, compared with the same month in 2008, according to figures announced Monday.

Cappadocia

astique ’s photo

Cappadocia

Iraq’s Kurdish region to export oil for first time

Iraq’s self-ruled Kurdish region will begin exporting crude oil for the first time on June 1, piping up to 90,000 bpd to its neighbours in a landmark step for the area, officials said on Sunday.

Unneighborliness in neighborhoods

European Capital of Culture 2010 “Istanbul” – By asking citizens in various cities who they would prefer to have living next door, a new survey reveals that Turks bear high levels of intolerance toward diversity, with atheists and gays among the least wanted neighbors.

scarf

zouhair ghazzal ’s photo

scarf

Iznik

Iznik lies in a fertile basin at the eastern end of the Lake Iznik (Turkish: Iznik Golu), bounded by ranges of hills to the north and south. Iznik is situated with its west wall rising from the lake itself, providing both protection from siege from that direction, as well as a source of supplies which would be difficult to cut off. Iznik Lake is large enough that it cannot be blockaded from the land easily, and the city was large enough to make any attempt to interdict the boats from shore-based siege weapons very difficult.

Iznik is surrounded on all sides by 5 km of walls about 10 m high. These are in turn surrounded by a double ditch on the land portions, and also include over 100 towers in various locations. Large gates on the three landbound sides of the walls provide the only entrance to the city.

Today the walls are pierced in many places for roads, but much of the early work survives and as a result it is a major tourist destination. The town has a population of about 15,000.

 History

There are traces of a civilisation dates back to 2500 BC in Karadin, Cicekli, Yugucek and Cakirca Mounds near Iznik. The settlement before the immigrations of Trak Tribes in the 7th century BC, took the name of Helikare. The word of ‘Khryseapolis’ (Golden City) was printed on the coins having been minted in the city.

Having been renovated by Antigonos, General of Macedonia Emperor Alexander the Great in 316 BC, the city took the name of Antigoneia. After the death of Alexander the Great, Iznik was handed over to General Lysimakhos who won the battle against Antigonos and named the city as Nicaea, which was also the name of his wife. In 293 BC, it became a part of Bithynia Kingdom. During this period, the city was decorated with important architectural structures. Nicaea, having been the capital city of Bithynia Kingdom for a period, later on continued its presence as an important settlement area of the Romans.

Nicaea got acquainted with Christianity by the efforts of Petrus, one of the disciples of Bithynia. During the reign of Emperor Constantine the 1st, the prohibitions on Christianity were removed. In the early summer of 325 AD, Nicaea was the scene of an important meeting of 1st Consul in Senatus Palace. A text comprising of 20 articles, known as Nicaea Laws, and Christianity Feast Days were approved after this consul.

In 787 AD, 7th Consul gathered in Hagia Sophia Church in Iznik. The prohibitions on paintings and statues were removed under the leadership of Empress Irene.

Iznik has also been the capital city of the Seljuks and Byzantines through history.

After having been captured by the Ottoman Army in 1331, Iznik became a more active city and a centre of art, culture and trade. Many famous people lectured in Orhan Ghazi Madrasah during this period. The first Mosque, Madrasa and İmaret (Soup Kitchen) of Ottoman Period were built in Iznik.

Iznik became an art centre during the 14th and 15th centuries, and world wide famous tiles and ceramics were produced here. Its city texture, with its grid-planned city settlement from Hellenistic Age and monumental structures from the Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans, has still been preserving in İznik.

Climate

Iznik has a temperate climate with wet winters. In summers, it is sufficiently rainy.