The place of Cyrus Hamlin in Christian missionary work in Turkiye

Christianity, with nearly 2 billion adherents today, owes its global reach to extensive missionary activities since its inception. Paul, credited as the architect of both Messianic Christian understanding and early missionary work, undertook pivotal journeys that shaped its initial spread. Following his era, the Roman Empire adopted Christianity, transforming it from a mere religion into a tool for power and control. This shift, coupled with internal power struggles and conflicts against Islamic nations post-Islam's emergence, further changed the nature of missions. Eventually, missionary work evolved beyond religious dissemination, becoming a means to facilitate colonial activities, a development prominent after the Crusades. The 19th century marked a peak for Christian missionary efforts, with the Ottoman Empire becoming a prime target due to its religious and geopolitical significance, viewed as "the key to Asia." During this period, Cyrus Hamlin arrived in Istanbul as an American missionary. His life and initiatives offer crucial insights into the driving forces behind Christianity's historical impact. As an educator, Hamlin significantly influenced the American Board's approach to educational missions, laying the groundwork for key educational institutions that impacted the late Ottoman Empire and the nascent Republic of Turkiye. Keywords: Missionary, Paul, Armenians, Cyrus Hamlin, Robert College.