Treaty of Lausanne (24 lugl 1923 anni – 31 dic 1924 anni)

Descrizione:

The Treaty of Lausanne (1923) was a pivotal agreement that marked the formal end of the Ottoman Empire and the creation of the modern Republic of Turkey. This treaty had a profound impact on the ethnic and religious populations within the Ottoman territories, including the Christians living in areas such as Cappadocia, where the famous underground cities were located. Here’s a detailed look at the treaty’s implications and how it led to the expulsion of Christians from these areas:

1. Background: End of the Ottoman Empire and World War I
• The Ottoman Empire sided with the Central Powers in World War I (1914–1918) and was defeated.
• Following the war, the empire began to break apart, with European powers occupying various parts of Ottoman territory.
• The Treaty of Sèvres (1920), a proposed peace treaty, sought to partition the Ottoman lands but was never fully ratified due to internal resistance and Turkish national movements.
2. Rise of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the War of Independence
• After the war, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led a Turkish nationalist movement against both the Allied powers and the occupying forces, forming the foundation for the Republic of Turkey.
• In 1922, Atatürk’s forces secured the liberation of Turkey, which culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.

3. The Treaty of Lausanne (1923)
• Key Provisions:
○ The Ottoman Empire officially ended, and the Republic of Turkey was recognized as a sovereign state.
○ The treaty redrew the borders of Turkey, ceding land to neighboring countries, including Greece and Syria.
○ One of the most significant aspects of the treaty was the population exchange between Turkey and Greece.
4. The Population Exchange: Expulsion of Greeks from Cappadocia
• Population Exchange Agreement (1923):
○ This agreement mandated the forced expulsion and resettlement of Christian Greeks (primarily Orthodox Christians) and Armenians from Turkey, and the expulsion of Turkish Muslims from Greece.
○ The Christians who had lived in areas like Cappadocia, where the underground cities were located, were forced to leave their ancestral homes.
○ Greek-speaking Christians in Cappadocia, particularly in the towns of Derinkuyu, Nevşehir, and other parts of central Turkey, were moved to Greece. Many had lived in the region for centuries, often since the time of the Byzantine Empire.
• Ethnic Cleansing and Religious Tensions:
○ The population exchange was part of a broader policy of ethnic and religious homogenization promoted by Atatürk's government, which sought to create a secular, Turkish-speaking nation.
○ The exchange was extremely traumatic for those affected. Families were uprooted, and thousands of Greek-speaking Christians (as well as some Armenians) were forced to leave their homes, including areas where the underground cities had once provided protection for early Christians.

5. Impact on the Underground Cities
• The Final Abandonment:
○ As part of the population exchange, many Greek-speaking Christian communities who had lived in Cappadocia’s underground cities were forcibly relocated to Greece.
○ This forced migration marked the end of Christian habitation in the Cappadocian region, which had been an important center for Christians for over a thousand years.
○ Underground cities like Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, which had once been shelters for Christians escaping persecution, were abandoned and forgotten for a long time, as the local Christian populations no longer existed to maintain them.
• Cultural Loss:
○ The expulsion meant that a significant portion of the Christian heritage in Cappadocia, including churches, monasteries, and ancient Christian communities, was lost to history.

6. The Legacy of the Treaty of Lausanne
• Population Shifts:
○ The Greek population that had been living in Turkey for centuries was reduced dramatically. The exchange essentially wiped out Greek-Christian communities from central Anatolia, including areas around Cappadocia.
• Modern Turkey:
○ The treaty helped solidify the creation of a Turkish national identity, but at the expense of many ethnic and religious minorities, especially Christians.
• Cultural and Religious Impact:
○ The expulsion marked the end of an era where Christian communities had lived in places like Cappadocia, known for its unique underground cities and monasteries. Today, these sites are mainly preserved as tourist destinations rather than active centers of faith.

Summary: Impact of the Treaty of Lausanne on Cappadocia Christians
• 1923 Treaty of Lausanne: Ended the Ottoman Empire and established the Republic of Turkey.
• Population Exchange: Forced Greek Orthodox Christians and Armenians to leave Turkey and settle in Greece.
• Cappadocia Christians: Many Christians who had lived in Cappadocia and used the underground cities for protection were expelled to Greece.
• Cultural Loss: Christian heritage in Cappadocia, including the underground cities, was largely abandoned after the expulsion.

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