The modern Turkish Republic was founded on October 29, 1923. This landmark event marked the end of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of a secular, national state led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Atatürk implemented extensive reforms aimed at modernizing and westernizing Turkey, promoting a sense of national identity and secularism. The creation of the republic was significant not only for Turkey but also for the broader Middle East, as it set a precedent for nationalist movements and nation-building in the region.