"Let Us Revive the Awareness of History from Its Ashes"

The documentary on civilization "The River Flowing West," prepared by MEDAM, was launched at a special evening at the Istanbul Congress Center attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Stating that such documentaries are very important, Erdoğan said, "This documentary will be an eye-opening experience for all minds that have been confined to looking at the past through a single window. Remember, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west every day."

The launch of the documentary on civilization "The Untold History of Civilizations: The River Flowing West," prepared by the Bahçeşehir University Center for Civilization Studies (MEDAM) with the contributions of the Faculty of Communication and TRT, was attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, Ministers Ertuğrul Günay and Ömer Dinçer, Bahçeşehir University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel, MEDAM Founding Chair Bekir Karlığa, TRT Director General İbrahim Şahin and many guests.

"MY HOMELAND IS LIKE NO OTHER"

At the opening, which began with songs from all regions of Türkiye performed by the TRT Choir, Erdoğan sang along to the song "Bir Başkadır Benim Memleketim" (My Homeland Is Like No Other). Speaking at the ceremony, Erdoğan said the following:

Stating that the concept of "civilization" has been taken out of its essential course in Western terminology and turned into an instrument of domination over the world's weak countries, Prime Minister Erdoğan said that the powerful define a single type of civilization in the world and provoke and belittle other civilizations.

Prime Minister Erdoğan said, "Right now in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, Somalia... I ask, who is dying, who is being killed? In whose name, and why? Those who die and are killed are mainly Muslims."

Recalling the Alliance of Civilizations Project they launched with Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero, Erdoğan noted that the initiative had become a UN project and that more than 100 countries, institutions and organizations support the project.

Stating that, despite today's emphasis on universal values, democracy, freedom and equality in the world, a look at the world map as a whole shows how universal these concepts have really become, Prime Minister Erdoğan said, "The latest and clearest example of this is Somalia. We are faced with a world that does not end the tragedy in Somalia today and does not extend a hand of compassion to Somali, Ethiopian and Kenyan children dying because they cannot find a bite of bread or a drop of water."

Recalling his 4-day visit to Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, Prime Minister Erdoğan said the following:

"In such a world, no one can claim to be the representative of universal values and civilization or the cradle of democracy. Egypt is a cradle of civilizations. But look at the state of Egypt. Imagine, an authoritarian and totalitarian regime is collapsing in Egypt right now. The political parties still emerging in the new period carry a concern: could something happen again? They carry this concern. What needs to be done is for the whole world to give them this self-confidence."

Prime Minister Erdoğan said, "Some may have different calculations. They may approach you in one way or another. What should happen is this: now that this path has been taken, you must wage this struggle for freedoms and for democracy, not through winding streets, but for real democracy."

"THIS DOCUMENTARY WILL BE AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE"

Erdoğan said, "Our intellectuals, academics, filmmakers and artists must follow developments around the world closely and convey Türkiye's message and position to the world. I think this documentary is the product of such an effort. This documentary will be an eye-opening experience for all minds that have been confined to looking at the past through a single window. Remember, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west every day."

YÜCEL: UNIVERSITIES TOUCH WHAT HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED. WE HAVE DONE THIS

Speaking next, Bahçeşehir University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel said that the world of yesterday is not the same as the world of today, and that the world of tomorrow will not be like today's.

Explaining that the world has moved from yesterday's unipolar world with a single power to today's world of multiple centers and powers, Yücel said, "We are showing the most vivid example of this with our determination to be a leader in our region."

Stating that humankind lives in a process of change every day, Yücel emphasized that universities should be foremost among the institutions examining and interpreting the developments and changes in this process.

Stating that universities are not only institutions that teach their students but also institutions that act as a locomotive leading society, Yücel said:

"We are a 13-year-old university. Our 2023 vision is to be among the world's top 500 universities. This requires achieving great things on a global scale. This cannot be done by Turks making propaganda to Turks. Universities are now concerned with the world's problems. Universities will now touch what has not been touched. We have done this with this documentary. I hope that this documentary will be taught as a textbook in schools around the world and contribute to peace among civilizations."

Stating that they had founded the Center for Civilization Studies 5 years ago, Yücel continued:

"When Bekir Karlığa told the story of the documentary that brings us together today, I kept the text of that story in my car for 3 months and read it constantly. I was very excited. It is truly a documentary that our children should watch.

Our goal was to tell everyone where civilization began and how far it has gone. We decided to cooperate with TRT. TRT responded to our request, and we believed we could accomplish it. I am very happy that this documentary will soon be broadcast."

"I WISH FOR IT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS AND TO PEACE"

Stating that many people contributed to the realization of this project and that he wished to extend his foremost thanks to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Yücel said, "Your vision and world leadership have made a very great contribution to this documentary reaching this day. I thank TRT, Bekir Karlığa who came up with the idea for the documentary, the scientists I worked with, our Faculty of Communication, and Lion TV, which produced the project. I wish for this documentary to contribute to the alliance of civilizations and to peace."

Enver Yücel concluded his speech by saying, "I believe that the documentary The River Flowing West will be an important resource in civilization courses. I think it would be beneficial for it to be watched and discussed in our schools. This documentary had to come from this geography, and it did. This is no coincidence."

PROJECT AUTHOR PROF. DR. KARLIĞA

Project author and Bahçeşehir University Center for Civilization Studies (MEDAM) Founding Chair Prof. Dr. Bekir Karlığa said that the documentary is a story of global civilization.

Karlığa said, "The documentary tries to tell the dazzling story of the exuberant and abundant waters that the East, especially the Middle East, the homeland of civilizations, and our country, which resembles an open-air museum of civilizations, have carried into the universal ocean of humanity."

Noting that the documentary, consisting of 20 episodes of 45 minutes each, has two versions, long and short, Karlığa said, "The documentary is the longest and most comprehensive documentary on civilization ever made in the world."

Explaining that documentaries on civilizations have so far mostly been approached from a Eurocentric perspective, Karlığa noted that filming took place in 16 countries and the views of more than 200 scientists, thinkers and artists were obtained, adding that the documentary explores the reasons for the rise and fall of civilizations.

Emphasizing that such a work could not be the work of a single person or institution, Karlığa thanked everyone who contributed to the project.

FILMED IN 16 COUNTRIES

For "The River Flowing West: A Documentary on Civilization," whose filming began two years ago, shooting took place in 16 countries, the views of around 200 thinkers, artists, scientists and politicians were obtained, and the cities and works of ancient times were brought back to life through dramatizations combined with the most advanced computer graphics. The documentary, consisting of 20 episodes of 45 minutes each, has two versions, long and short.

Erdoğan said, "The people of these lands do not need imported perceptions of history, biased information sources far from objectivity, or complex-ridden assessments. For centuries in these lands, our people lived lives with an awareness of history and a vision of civilization. What we must do today is break the rote ideas instilled in our minds over the last few centuries, and revive the awareness of history and the vision of civilization from their ashes."

THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENTARY EVER MADE ON CIVILIZATION

Described by international opinion leaders as "the most comprehensive documentary ever made on civilization," the project was realized to bring humanity together with a more balanced perspective against the opposition to the East and Islam that spread around the world after the September 11 attacks. "The River Flowing West" aims to be a documentary of peace.

Supported by the Prime Ministry Turkish Promotion Fund and produced by Lion TV, one of the UK's largest production companies, the documentary will meet viewers on TRT in September and on international TV channels in the following months.

Humanity's long journey of civilization, which began in the fertile lands of Mesopotamia and Anatolia, dates back about twelve thousand years. "The River Flowing West: A Documentary on Civilization" tells this long journey from an objective perspective.

Aiming to draw the attention of world public opinion to the true birthplace of civilization, Mesopotamia, the land between two rivers in the Middle East, "The River Flowing West" was prepared by the Bahçeşehir University Center for Civilization Studies (MEDAM) with the contributions of the Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Communication.

MEDAM CONDUCTS RESEARCH ALL OVER THE WORLD

Founded by Bahçeşehir University and chaired by Prof. Dr. Bekir Karlığa, MEDAM (Center for Civilization Studies) uses contemporary technologies and scientific methods to research the accumulated knowledge and contributions of Türkiye and its region in the fields of science, thought, art and civilization from past to present. The aim is to introduce the resulting research data to world universities in particular, as well as to Turkish youth, the Turkish people and all humanity. Establishing connections with centers conducting civilization research in various countries around the world and carrying out exchanges of knowledge, experience, scientists and students, MEDAM runs joint programs and organizes meetings with non-governmental organizations conducting international research and studies. Publishing works in Turkish and foreign languages on civilization studies, MEDAM ensures that studies on civilization research carried out at Bahçeşehir University are published and promoted.

The documentary airs on TRT every Tuesday at 22:00.