| Name | Ankara |
| Economy | Focused on agriculture, less industry and commerce |
| Government | Lacks grand buildings and infrastructure of a capital city |
| Population | Smaller, less diverse |
| Notable feature | Remained a small, traditional Anatolian town |
| Historical significance | Not the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which was located in Bursa |
Ankara is a city located in the central Anatolian region of the Ottoman Empire. Unlike in our timeline, Ankara did not rise to prominence as the capital of the modern Turkish Republic. Instead, the Ottoman capital remained in the more strategically important city of Bursa throughout the empire's history.
Ankara has been inhabited since ancient times, but for most of its history, it was a relatively small and obscure Anatolian town within the Ottoman domains. Even as the Ottoman Empire expanded across the region, Ankara did not experience the same level of growth and development as other major cities like Bursa, Istanbul, and Izmir.
The decision to locate the Ottoman capital in Bursa, with its proximity to the Sea of Marmara and easy access to maritime trade routes, meant that Ankara remained a provincial backwater during the empire's heyday. It lacked the grand imperial architecture, extensive infrastructure, and influx of migrants that transformed many other Ottoman cities.
Situated in the heart of the Anatolian peninsula, Ankara occupies a relatively flat, arid landscape. The city's urban layout has remained compact and traditional, with winding streets and low-rise buildings clustered around the historic Ankara Castle at its center.
Unlike the sprawling, modern metropolis of our timeline, Ankara in this alternate history has not experienced massive population growth or territorial expansion. It lacks the extensive network of highways, rail lines, and high-rise commercial districts that characterize the Ankara we know. The city's built environment is dominated by older Ottoman-era architecture, with fewer examples of modern skyscrapers and government complexes.
With a population of just over 1 million as of 2020, Ankara is significantly smaller than its counterpart in our world. Its demographics also differ, as the city has a more homogeneous Turkish and Muslim character, lacking the ethnic and religious diversity that has come to define it in our timeline.
The lack of large-scale migration and urbanization means Ankara has not seen the same influx of minority populations, including Kurds, Armenians, and Greeks, that shaped the demographics of the capital city in our reality. Its inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Turks practicing Islam.
Ankara's economy revolves primarily around agriculture, in contrast to the diversified, industrialized, and service-oriented economy of the Ankara we know. The city and its surrounding region are known for the production of crops like wheat, barley, and fruits.
Manufacturing, commerce, and transportation - major drivers of Ankara's economy in our timeline - play a much smaller role here. Ankara is not a significant hub for road, rail, or air travel, nor does it house the headquarters of major corporations and government agencies as in our world. Its economic importance pales in comparison to the metropolis it is in our reality.
With its smaller size and lack of rapid modernization, Ankara has a more traditional cultural character compared to the cosmopolitan, globally-connected city of our timeline. The city's architectural landscape is dominated by Ottoman-era mosques, bazaars, and other historic structures, with fewer examples of grand, modern public buildings.
Ankara also lacks many of the prominent cultural institutions, museums, and tourist attractions that define it in our world. It does not host the same diversity of performing arts, media, and educational facilities that make the other Ankara a major center of culture and innovation.
