All about Turkey

1000 Years of Civilization  

  
 The name “Turkey” is relatively new. But the land which become this modern nation is the cradle of civilization itself. Its long and chequered history stretches back more than 7500 years before the birth of Christ. 

The Oldest city in the world - 7500 - 500 BCE – The existence of organized settlements in prehistoric Anatolia was confirmed by the discovery of the ancient city of Catal Hoyuk (near modern Konya). While our ancestors were living an aboriginal life, the early Anatolian peoples had already mastered the art of weaving, building and the social skills needed for community life. There’s not much to see at the site of Chatal Hoyuk, but history buffs will find many interesting artifacts on display at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. 

The Hittite Empire – Many people will have heard of the Hittites through biblical stories praising their skills in battle. The Hittites were a major tribal force from 1650 to 700 BCE who travelled and traded over a vast area stretching over Egypt, Mesopotamia and Europe. They may have founded the city of Ephesus, and left traces of their gods and heroes on enormous rock carvings which still dominate peaceful valleys from the Aegean coast to the far east of the country.

The heart of the Hittite Empire was destroyed by waves of invaders attacking from all sides, and their great trade routes were severed. Anatolia was occupied by many different tribes: those of Greek origin settled mainly around the Aegean coast, while other invaders from the north established themselves on the Black Sea coast and the fertile central plains.

The Aegean settlers had to fight the existing inhabitants to establish themselves, and strong defences were needed to protect their settlements from both dispossessed locals and other groups of migrants in search of land and power. Bodrum, Marmaris and Altinkum were part of the ancient kingdom of Caria: Fethiye, Kas and Patara were part of Lycia: Kusadasi, Cesme and Izmir lay in Ionian territory.

As Rich as Croesus – The town of Sardis, just 60 km from Izmir, was the Lydian town where gold purification was invented. This led to the world’s first minted coins, closely followed by the development of banks and moneylenders.

It’s no coincidence that King Croesus of Lydia and his neighbour King Midas of Phrygia are famous for their wealth. Both were indigenous Anatolians who traded with both the coastal Greek settlers and the sophisticated merchants of the Middle East. 

Clash of the Titans: Persia v. Macedonia 550 – 200 BCE – Into Anatolia from the east came Cyrus, Emperor of Persia, conquering everything and everybody in his path. Local rulers were often allowed to continue to administrate their lands as representatives, or satraps, of the Persian Empire. Mausolus was a Carian ruler who came to terms with the Persians and ruled as a satrap. His tomb, called a mausoleum, at Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum) was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A small scale Roman replica of the tomb can be seen in the market town of Milas.

But even as the Persians took stock of their victories, a new challenge was rising in the west.  Alexander of Macedonia, educated in Athens and Sparta, but never considered to be the equal of his Greek peers, set out to make Macedonia a force to be reckoned with.

But even as the Persians took stock of their victories, a new challenge was rising in the west.  Alexander of Macedonia, educated in Athens and Sparta, but never considered to be the equal of his Greek peers, set out to make Macedonia a force to be reckoned with. The achievements of this young conqueror, only 24 years old at the peak of his power, meant the subjugation of all the kingdoms from Athens to India to the will of Alexander the Great. Greek became the language of commerce, culture and law and provided the framework for the flowering of creativity known to us as the Hellenistic period.  

When Alexander died at the age of 33, no one successor was able to replace him. Instead, his military generals seized nations and peoples and, as the empire fragmented, its strength sapped by power struggles and personal vendettas, the threat of the newly emerging Roman Empire went unrecognised.

An invitation to Rome – The possibility of invasion by the Romans would not have seemed possible to a citizen of Ephesus. It was known that the Romans were at war with Hannibal in Carthage, less the 10 days sailing from Ephesus, but while the legacy of Alexander was being torn apart by feuding warlords, the underlying assumption was that life would carry on much as before.

Eumenes II of Pergamon, under threat from Celtic invaders, changed the course of Anatolian history for ever by asking the Romans for military aid. The Romans responded with a full-scale military invasion.

The Roman Invasion 200 BCE – 300 AD - A major Roman victory took place at Magnesia (near modern Manisa) in 190 BCE and started a lengthy period of Roman domination over the whole of present day Turkey.

The Romans established the Province of Asia and appointed the famous city of Ephesus as its capital. Impressed by the existing cities and temples in their new territories, the Romans went to great lengths to put their own stylistic stamp on the region. Many of the impressive monuments still standing today date from the Roman period of rule.  

The time from 31 BCE to 180 AD is known as the Pax Romana or “Roman Peace”. This was the height of the Roman Empire, but it was also the time when the followers of the “new way”, the Christian religion, were most persecuted by their polytheistic rulers.

The Early Christians – The Roman Emperors had followed the model of the Persians and Greeks, setting themselves up as gods, with altars built for the function of emperor worship. But the early Christians refused to pay homage. They criticized the status quo and met in secret to plan how to spread the word of God. The conversion of the Aegean peoples to Christianity came quickly as the tough, often ruthless, marketing talents of St. Paul were implemented by dedicated locals, such as Ananias and Priscilla of Ephesus. To avoid imprisonment and harassment, Paul sent strongly worded letters to his Anatolian supporters. The seven churches of these letters can easily be visited in day excursions. 

Christians thrown to the Lions – The persecution of Christians reached a climax in the year 65 AD when the Emperor Nero, accused of arson against his own capital city, succeeded in shifting the blame for the burning of Rome to the Christians. Christians were captured and thrown to the lions in theatres all over the empire. But despite this, the religion prospered and spread. 

The Emperor Claudius legalized Christianity in 313 AD and just a century later it was declared the official religion of the Roman Empire.  

 

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