Present-day Turkey is ruled by the Hettites between 2000 and 1200 BC. From that moment on Greek settlers colonize the coast of Minor Asia. Minor Asia is ruled by Persia between 546 and 334 BC. In 133 Minor Asia is conquered by the Hellenic states of Macedon. Hellenic rules continues until 133, when the area is conquered by the Roman Empire. Rome establishes the province of Asia Minor. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395 the province of Asia Minor becomes part of the East Roman Empire.

From 1000 on Turkish tribe settle in Minor Asia and form the Saljuq Sultanate in 1077. This sultanate is defeated by the Mongols in 1243 and disintegrates into several small Turkish states. These principalities are united in In 1288 by in the Ottoman Empire. Gradualy the Ottoman rule extenses to large parts of South Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. In 1453 the Ottomans conquer Constantinopel, capital of the East Roman Empire, and make it under the name Istanbul capital of the Ottoman Empire.

In 1534 the Empire is at the maximum of its power, from that moment on it gradually loses territories. Sultan 'Abdül Hamid II grants the empire a constitution, but absolute monarchy is restored in 1878. In 1908 sultan 'Abdül Hamid II is forced to reinstate the constitution, this brings the reformist Young Turks of the İttihad ve Terakki (Unity and Progress, IT) to power and introduces constitutional rule. The Ottoman Empire becomes a multi party state, but after the assaissination of prime minister Mahmut Şevket paşa in 1913 parties are abolished. From that time the IT rules as a virtual military dictatorship. The empire enters World War I as an ally of Germany and Austria. After the defeat at World War I the Ottoman Empire collapses and it loses its non-Turkish areas.

Defeated, shorn of much of its former territory, and partly occupied by forces of the victorious European states, the Ottoman structure is repudiated by Turkish nationalists who rally under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal. In 1920 a parliament is elected, dominated by the Andolu ve Rumeli Müdafaayı Hukuk Cemiyeti (Association of the Defence of the Rights of Anatolia and Rumelia, ARMHC) of Kemal. The temporal and religious ruling institutions of the old empire (the sultanate and caliphate) are abolished and the empire is renamed in 1922 into Turkey, first named Turkish State, renamed Turkish Republic in 1923. Kemal becomes president of the new Turkish state. later known as Kemal Atatürk. The nationalists expell invading Greek forces from Anatolia after a bitter war. Kemal's followers inside the ARMHC found in 1923 the Halk Firkası (People's Party, HF). The party is renamed Cumhuriyet Halk Firkası (Republican People's Party, CHF) in 1924. He rules the country as a dictator and under his leadership Turkey becomes a secular one-party state.

Kemal becomes known as Kemal Atatürk in 1935 and the party is renamed Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Republican People's Party, CHP) te same year. Referred to as "Kemalism," its ideology comprises secularism, nationalism and modernization and turns toward the West for inspiration and support. The continued validity and applicability of Kemalism is the subject of frequent discussion and debate in Turkey's political life. After his death in 1938 Atatürk is succeeded by Ismet Inönü. The same year Sanjak of Alexandretta is separated from Syria as Hatay. In 1939 Hatay is incorporated into Turkey.

In 1950 Turkey becomes a multi-party parliamentary democracy. The oppositional Demokrat Partisi (Democratic Party, DP) under Adnan Menderes seizes power in 1950. The DP wins also the elections of 1954 and 1957, but its rule becomes increasingly authoritarian. This leads in 1960 to a army coup by Cemal Gürsel. In 1961 parliamentary democracy is restored and Ismet Inönü of the CHP becomes prime minister again. He loses confidence of parliament in 1965 and is forced to abdicate. Later that year the CHP loses the 1965 elections, bringing the AP with Süleyman Demirel to the premiership. The army still sees its role as the custodian of the secular tradition and stages in 1971 a coup to bring down the government of Süleyman Demirel. After some interim governments, the CHP wins the 1973 elections and forms a coalition government under its leader Mustafa Bülent Ecevit. This government falls in 1974 and in 1975 the CHP is defeated by the AP. Demirel becomes prime minister again. Between 1977 and 1979 Ecevit is prime minister and in 1979 Demirel becomes prime minister again.

In 1980 the army stages another coup. The independent Saim Bülent Ülüsü becomes prime minister and the regime allows elections in 1983. After the restoration of civilian rule, Turgut Özal of the Anavatan Partisi (Motherland Party, AnaP) becomes prime minister. He becomes president in 1989 and as prime minister he is succeeded by Yildirim Akbulut and in 1991 by Ahmet Mesut Yilmaz. The Doğru Yol Partisi (True Path Party, DYP), succesor of the AP, wins the 1991 elections and Demirel beomes prime minister again. In 1993 his co-partisan Tansu Çiller becomes prime minister. She is succeeded in 1996 by Yilmaz, leading a coalition of the AnaP with the DYP. When this coalition breaks down the DYP joins a coalition with the islamist Refah Partisi (Welfare Party, RP) under Necmettin Erbakan. Under military pressure Erbakan steps down in 1997 and his party is banned in 1998.

Yilmaz becomes prime minister again in a coalition with the social democratic Demokratik Sol Partisi (Democratic Left Party, DSP), the new party of Bülent Ecevit. This coalitio breaks down and Ecevit becomes prime minister in a minority government. After the elections of 1999 he can form a coalition with the AnaP and the nationalist Milliyetçi Partisi (Nationalist Action Party, MHP). In 2001 the Fazilet Partisi, successor of the RP is banned. One of the successors of this party is the moderate islamic reformist Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (Justice and Development Party, AK) of Reçep Tayyıp Erdogan. Erdogan is banned from politics, but the AK captures in 2002 34.3% of the total votes. Since the AK and CHP are the only parties to surpass the 10% threshold required to hold seats in parliament, the AK has an huge majority in parliament, making Abdullah Gül prime minister. He is succeeded in 2003 by Erdogan.

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