The Balkan Peninsula is a geographical region located in southeastern Europe and has witnessed significant events throughout history. These regions have been a crossroads for various ethnic groups, cultures, and languages since the Migration Period. This region has been a domain of dominance and civilization for many powerful political authorities such as the Kingdom of Macedonia, Rome, the Western Huns, and the Ottoman Empire since ancient times.
The Turkish presence in the Balkans has been enriched through the Ottoman Empire's conquest movements and resettlement policies. Centuries ago, Turkish communities migrating from the north and the south settled in various regions of the Balkans.
This article aims to examine the historical development process of the Manastır Military High School, located in Manastır (Bitola), which was an important cultural center during the Ottoman period and still carries the seal of the Ottoman Empire today. The research aims to determine the influence of this high school on the intellectual personality and ideas of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. The research has found that the Manastır Military High School had a significant impact on the formation of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's literary taste and political ideas.
Bitola Museum, Monastery Military High School, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ataturk Meorial Hall.