The Department of Atatürk’s Principles and History of Revolution at Rumeli University aims to present Turkey’s modernization process to our students within its historical continuity through a two-semester program offered as a compulsory course across all faculties and departments of our university.
Our course content covers modern Turkish history from the modernization process of the Ottoman Empire to the First World War, the National Struggle, the establishment of the Republic and its early reforms, the single-party era, the years of the Second World War, the transition to a multi-party political system, the Cold War period, and developments extending to the 1990s. Within this framework, we aim for our students to comprehend the dynamics of historical continuity and transformation from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic, and to evaluate political, social, and international developments from a comparative perspective.
While preparing our program, we rely on current and international scholarship; our curriculum is regularly reviewed and updated in line with evolving global historiography and academic approaches. In this way, our students are encouraged to develop a historical consciousness that goes beyond a solely national narrative and takes the global context into account. Our department’s academic staff consists of distinguished scholars who are experts in their fields, committed to academic production, and approach the discipline of history with a strong sense of scholarly responsibility.
Our educational philosophy moves away from rote learning and embraces an approach grounded in understanding, inquiry, and critical thinking. Our primary objective is to enable students to analyze historical events from multiple perspectives, evaluate differing viewpoints, and express their ideas within the framework of academic ethics. Through the courses on Atatürk’s Principles and the History of Revolution, we aim not only to provide students with historical knowledge but also to foster a strong sense of civic responsibility, raising individuals who respect human rights, are committed to democratic values, and feel responsible toward their country and the world. Educating young people who can assess Turkey’s past with prudence and analytical insight, who are sensitive to global developments and have internalized universal values, is among the fundamental goals of our department.
We continue our work with an academic approach that values student feedback, remains responsive to needs, and is committed to continuous improvement.
