Let's talk something about Anatolia..
* Stamp of Soultan Mehmet II *
The History of Anatolia encompasses the region known as “Anatolia” (Turkish: Anadolu), known by the ”Latin Name : Asia Minor”, considered to be the westernmost extent of “Western Asia”. Geographically it encompasses the central uplands of modern Turkey from the coastal plain of the “Agean Sea” east to the mountains on the “armenia” border and from the narrow coast of the”Black Sea” south to the”Taurus Mountains”.
The earliest representations of culture in Anatolia can be found in several archaeological sites located in the central and eastern part of the region. The 250.000 years old homo sapiens footprints of “Kula” and “Krain Cave”are samples for human existence in Anatolia, in this period. Although the origins of some of the earliest peoples are shrouded in mystery, the remnants of “Hattian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Hititas or Hittite” culture provides us with many examples of the daily lives of its citizens and their trade. After the fall of the Hittites, the new states of “Phrygia” and “Lydia” stood strong on the western coast as “greek” civilization began to flourish. Only the threat from a distant Persian kingdom prevented them from advancing past their peak of success.
As Persia grew, their system of local control in Anatolia allowed many port cities to grow and to become very wealthy. Their governors did revolt from time to time, but it did not really pose a serious threat.”Macedonian Alexander The Great” finally wrested control of the whole region from Persia in successive battles and achieved marked victories over his Persian foe “Darius III. After his death, his conquests were split amongst several of his trusted generals and survived under constant threat of invasion from both the “Gauls” and other powerful rulers in “Pergamon” “Pontus” and “Egypt”. The Selucid Empire, largest of the divided territories of Alexander, eventually was bled off by Roman interest in Anatolia and conquered or given away piecemeal.
Roman control of Anatolia was strengthened by a 'hands off' approach by Rome, allowing local control to govern effectively and providing military protection. During the reign of “Istanbul (Constantine) the Great”, a new eastern empire was established at Istanbul (Constantinople), referred to by historians as the Byzantine Empire. It succeeded initially due to its vast wealth and judicious rulers, but soon suffered from widespread neglect and a new empire borne from the earlier Mongol advance, the Turks. The armies of the “Seljuk” and “Ilkhanete” gradually overran the vital trading centers under scope of Byzantine influence. The “Ottoman Turks”, under the command of "Sultan MEHMET II (Fatih Sultan Mehmet)”, finally destroyed the “Byzantine Empire” when they conquered Istanbul (Constantinapole) in 1453.
The Ottoman Empire in Anatolia allowed other religions to maintain themselves long after 1453, and built upon their success by enlarging their territories, from North Africa to Europe beyond thrace. Wars with Russia and other peoples in revolt prevented the Ottomans from taking advantage of their powerful position, and declined under ineffective leadership.
Even their highly skilled army, the janissaries, were eventually disbanded after an attempted revolt. Reforms designed to improve the economy backfired as burdensome taxes and levies turned away profitable trade, and desperation allowed the Empire to be sucked into World War I on the side of Germany and Austria. Following their defeat in the war, the Ottoman Empire was carved up and was now limited to Anatolia, but greek aims in the region caused new tensions that boiled over into full-scale war.
It was this war that allowed "MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK” to make Anatolia into the new “REPUBLIC OF TURKEY” by defeating the greeks and abolishing the Ottoman Government for good in 1922. Since that time, Turkey has grown into a modern state that has enjoyed relative peace in Anatolia.
