Turkey is one of the most ancient settlement areas of the world as four seasons are encountered on the fruitful land on which thousands of natural plant grows.
At the archeological excavations in the Karain cave near Antalya, various traces relevant with the lower, intermediate and upper periods of Paleolithic Age. The Paleolithic Age is generally accepted to start in two million years before the present time and ended ten thousand years ago. The most developed Neolithic Age settlement center of the Ancient Near-east and Aegean is Çatalhöyük, which is 52 km southeast of Konya Province. Anatolia has entered to the Ancient Bronze Age by the end of BC IV. Thousand and by the beginning of BC III. Thousand.

Anatolia has entered to the inscribed history period by the beginning of the year BC 1950. The Hittites has founded the first state governed by the central system in Anatolia at the year of BC 1750. The traces and the art work belonging to Hittites are obtained from the archeological excavations carried in Boğazköy, Alacahöyük, Eskiyapar, İnandık, Maşathöyük, Kargamış, Zincirli, Arslantepe, Karatepe, Sakçagözü and in various places which were under the reign of Hittites.

After destroying the Hittite Empire, Frigs have gained the dominance over some region of Anatolia between BC 1200-700 years. Their government center was Gordion, at the vicinity of Ankara. Urartus, founding a state around Van Lake with their capital as Tuşba (Van) at the beginning of BC I. Thousand has added important works of art to our cultural heritage.

By the end of the BC II. Thousand, as a result of the Dorian migrations, the first Hellenist colonies begin to settle at the western parts of Anatolia. The effect of Ion civilization had significantly increased in Western Anatolia after the year BC 1050. Karia, Lycia and Lydia Civilizations had their brightest and most advanced periods between BC VII- VI. Centuries. The Lydians founded a state at the central parts of Aegean Region by the years around BC 700 with the capital city of Sardes and this civilization made the first currency in the form of coins. The Lydian Civilization was destroyed by Persians in BC 546. But the Lydian civilization continue to effect Anatolia until BC 300. During the reign of Persians in the western Anatolia, because of the combination of the Persian culture with the Greek culture, Greco- Persian Style art works were established and appeared.

After the invasion of Anatolia by Alexander the Great, the Hellenistic Period (BC 333-30) began in Anatolia. During this period, the cities of Aegean Region was ornamented by architectural art works. After BC 30 and following years, there was a major cultural improvement under the reign of Roman Empire. As the Roman Empire was divided into two in the year 395, Byzantium period began in Anatolia and the art works were adapted to this culture. Parallel to the spreading of the Christianity, there was a significant increase in the religious structures and works. The Byzantium period ended in year 1453, after the conquering of Istanbul by Turks. During this period, the cities of Aegean Region were ornamented with the architectural art works.

Turks begin to settle in Anatolia starting from the beginning of the XI. Century during the period of Great Seljuk Empire. During the period of the Turkey Seljuks (1075-1318) who could be counted as the continuation of Great Seljuk Empire, the older cities were repaired and ornamented with new structures and also new settlement places were founded. The priority was set to the religious architecture required by Islam, education institutions and hospitals.

The Ottomans, which founded a state in 1299 and become an empire later had obtained the unification in Anatolia in the period of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. During the ascension period which begins with Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the borders of the empire reached to the inner parts of Iran to Central Europe and from Crimea to Northern Africa. The Ottoman Empire carried its own culture to these new conquered lands while absorbing the admired elements into its own from these lands. Therefore, a rich culture mosaic is founded.
Starting from the XVIII. Century, The effects of European culture on the Ottoman culture is seen.

After the Turkish Independence War under the command of great leader Atatürk, Republic of Turkey was founded in 29 October 1923. The Republic of Turkey took over a rich cultural heritage from the Ottoman Government. Atatürk initiated important studies concerning about enlightening, preserving and presentation of this rich heritage. He founded Turkish Language and History Institutions. He founded and helped education in Faculty of Language, History and Geography. He showed great importance to Museums. He reverted Topkapı Palace and Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) into museums. By archeological excavations he hold, numerous art works and ancient remains have come into light and entered into museums.

Being a geographic location for numerous civilizations and a mosaic of various cultures, Turkey is one of the leading countries of having rich cultural background and varieties. Turkey has united his natural beauties with its cultural riches and therefore made great improvements in the tourism field. The remains and works of ancient cultures other than Turkish background are preserved and great importance is paid to these art works. Today, although most of the Turkish oriented remains and art works are totally destroyed in Balkans and Central Europe, in Turkey all of the foreign oriented art works are preserved even if they do not have artistic value. There are thousands of art works and ancient remains that could be called as a Wonder in Turkey. The Ephesus Arthemis Temple and Halikarnas Bodrum Mausoleum, which are counted among the seven wonders of the world, were once inside the borders of Turkey. The still remaining parts of these two unique wonders and some of the Turkey's cultural riches are demonstrated at the major museums all around the world. If only the magnificent tiles are tried to be assembled together at one source, volumes of art works having the title of wonder is formed. The mansions, palaces, mosques, meander, şadırvan, fountains, wooden balconies and clothing do not fit into any sort of volumes. In Turkey, happily, we have numerous wonderful and unique art works.