During the early 1900s, empires were the norm as European empires had most of the world under their control but there was one that was different from the rest. The Ottoman empire, the empire stretched from Anatolia to the Arabian peninsula and at its peak, it claimed land in northern Africa and most of eastern Europe. However, at the beginning of 1900, the empire was known as “The Sick Man of Europe” and many people saw the demise of the empire as inevitable. One of those that thought the empire should end was Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He would define the years after the surrender of the Ottoman empire as his beliefs would shape the new nation that would emerge after the the war. The reforms he created during his time in power would impact the history of Turkey as those around the world look to him for inspiration on building a nation. The quick reforms he enacted after the end of the First World War would change the Muslim Ottoman empire to a secular republic that exists today.