Day 7 Caravan Connections: Stitching the Empire Together

Off to Canakkale (pronounced Chenackele) after learning about the Levant region of the Ottoman Empire in class this morning. We learned about the major characteristics of Aleppo, Damascus and Cairo and their overall importance for trade and culture in the Ottoman Empire. Our leader Dana (Boston College) is from Syria, and she is not only a great professor but is a lot of fun too. It was really interesting to hear this from her. Both of our professors, as well as our Primary Source leaders and tour guide are great. I have learned so much in the last week. Fascinating journey!

We then had another half day bus ride out to the Dardanelles. We rode a ferry with the entire bus across and back after seeing sites of the Gallipoli Battlefield where Turkey held position and defended this area of the Aegean Coast and Dardanelles from the Allies during World War I. Ataturk's heroism here brought him to fame for him to later rise to the Turkish leadership. There were over 130,000 casualties here. We only got to see a smidgen of this, but it was absolutely stunning. The panoramic views were unlike anything I have seen. The cemeteries were somber, a nice Sunday activity. 

This seemed to me to be the truck stop mosque, a baby of a thing. See the next pic with me. 

Ferry ride. Enjoying the breeze and sunshine. 

See the cars below. Our bus is even on here. The trip across took about 25 minutes. We took another way on the way back, as we made a loop. 

Moving quote by Ataturk 19 years after the battle. 

Mostly Australians are buried in this cemetery. 

Stacy and I along the Aegean.  I could not resist dipping my feet. Beautiful waters. 

 

An area called Lone Pine where more allied soldiers are buried. The wall there has names of those fallen whose bodies were not recovered. There were about 13,000 in all, from both sides I believe, that fell in that sad category. It really was moving to see the ages of all these young men and think of such needless slaughter. 

Ataturk. This is where he was wounded by shrapnel. 

The trenches. You can see why this high ground was defended. 

We are very close to Troy (30 km) but will not be going. That was pre-Ottoman. :-). This horse is from the movie. 

My dinner group. Jenny (across from me) was at the finish line of the Boston Marathon and had to have shrapnel surgically removed from her chest. These are awesome ladies. Great night of fish and chatting. 

You can see close to the entrance of the Strait of Dardanelles in the distance and the fort across the way.