Istanbul Facts (Continued)

Turkey is famous for carpets. Recently, at the Grand bazaar, actress Chelize Theron paid $500 000 for a 15 square meter carpet with 15 million knots that took 15 years to complete. Allegedly, it was once owned by a Mr. S. Hussein of Iraq!

The Turkish 1st commando Brigade made it into the Guinness Book of Records for flying the biggest flag at the greatest height. A 513 square meter Turkish flag was flown 2 000 over Cappadocia.

The average Turkish income in 1986 was $1 487.20 where as today it has increased to $5 008 (compared with $37 000 in the US). By the year 2050, they should have caught up to what Americans are earning today.

There are 70 million people in Turkey. By 2050 there should be 96 million. Most western countries have a declining population. By 2050 Italy will have lost 14 million (the same size as Istanbul today).

Women's Rights:

1843: First trainee midwives entered the School Medicine
1847: The sale of women as slave or concubines banned

1913: Women first permitted to be state officials
1930/1934: Women given the right to vote in local/state elections

2006: Government trying to legislate against women using their maiden names after marriage