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History |
Anatolian History dates back to more than 7500 BC. This makes Turkish history one of the oldest on earth. Anatolia has been the cradle of many civilizations. A country connecting wet and east, old and new, all living side by side, making a most interesting, colourful country.
There have been signs of human beings living in the Mediterranean area dating back before 7500 BC. In Çatal Höyük (south of Konya) the remains of a Stone Age settlement have been found. In Yümüktepe (Mersin) gold and silver jewels and ironwork decoration have been found. Most of these remains from the Stone Age and Stone & Copper age are displayed in the museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.
Bronze Age - The Hittites 2600 - 1200 BC The most important civilization of this era has been the Hittites. Beautiful pottery, ironwork and golden jewels and figures of Hittite origin have been found. They are also the first civilization in Asia Minor to use cuneiform and "image" writing. Beautiful palaces and castles have been made during the Hittite Empire and last, but not least, their temples. The Hittites worshipped a sun goddess and a storm god (so much for emancipation in those days).
The Greeks coming up 1200 BC - 550 BC Because of power changes in Greece, a lot of people fled to the Anatolian Highland. Ionians settled in the west around Izmir, Phrygians at the Mediterranean around Antalya, Lydians in the middle and in the east the Empire of Urartu, to name a few. Lots of smaller kingdoms and empires spread out over the Anatolian peninsula. It was the start of a blooming mainly Hellenistic period. The Greeks started using marble and the typical Greek scrolled capitals of pillars are seen. The Lydians invented the coin and their King Croesus became a famous collector.
The Persians 546 - 334 BC
Alexander the Great & Hellenism 334 - 323 BC As the Persians swept into Anatolia from the east, taking over everybody and everything, so did Alexander the Great at his time. During his conquering path he traveled through Gordium, where the famous Gordion knot awaited him. Untying the knot would gain that person the domination of Asia. Impetuous as he was, he cut it with his sword. Might this have been the solution? It seems so; Asia ended up in his hand in no time! But this time it wasn't a single wind blowing through Anatolia. Alexander the Great was the first of rulers to meld western and eastern cultures, resulting in a kaleidoscope of beautiful art, architecture and cultural development. After his Death in 323 BC the Empire came quickly down. His generals divided the country and ended up in civil war with each other.
Seleucid, Galatia, Armenia & Pergamum 323 - 100 BC
Roman times 100 BC - 395 AD The Romans started entering the peninsula from now on. They conquered Seleucia. Pergamum, being their allies, and the Romans lived peacefully next to each other. To the reign of Pergamum came a sudden end in 133. The King, who didn't have an heir to the throne, died and left the country in his will to the Romans. For almost three centuries the Romans would rule in Anatolia. They must have been successful to be able to rule that long. They brought a more quiet and stable period to Asia Minor. Culture flourished and the Romans reshaped remains of the Greek period and started putting their stamp on the architecture and art they constructed on the peninsula. Instead of building theaters on hills like the Greeks did, with a view on the natural surroundings, the Romans started building them also in free space and closed up the "skene", the acting area of a theater with a wall, thus creating "decor". Many castles and temples rose under their hand too. During Roman times also a new religion started flourishing, Christianity. St. Paul came to Tarsus in Cilicia. The excellent roads offered him fast transportation so he visited a vast amount of cities spread through whole Asia Minor. Visiting Iconium (Konya), a city from the Kingdom of Galatia, he wrote the people a letter, which you are still able to read as a part of the Bible. In Antioch the followers of this new religion are coming together in a cave. Here these people are for the first time called Christians. Later on a church has been built here, the St Peter Church and is considered the first Christian church. St. John is said to have spent the last part of his life in the area of Ephesus, accompanied by mother Mary. Christianity gained strength and made rulers scared, resulting in persecutions and executions of this upcoming religion's followers.
Byzantium 395 - 1453 AD
Seljuk Empire 1037 - 1281 AD Ottoman Empire 1288 - 1923 AD
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