| |
History and
civilizations
Turkey is one of the most
ancient settlement areas of the world. Archaeological excavations in the Karain
cave near Antalya have yielded material dating from the lower, intermediate and
upper periods of Palaeolithic Age – the earliest finds, some two million years
old. The most developed Neolithic Age settlement centre is Çatalhöyük, 52 km
southeast of the Konya Province. Anatolia entered the Ancient Bronze Age between
the end of 4000BC and the beginning of 3000BC.
The Hittites in 1750BC founded the first state governed by the central system in
Anatolia. Archaeological excavations in Boğazköy, Alacahöyük, Eskiyapar,
İnandık, Maşathöyük, Kargamış, Zincirli, Arslantepe, Karatepe, Sakçagözü all
unearthed artefacts from the reign of the Hittites.
After the Hittites came the Frigs (1200-700BC) with their headquarters at
Gordion, near Ankara. Urartus, who founded a state around Van Lake with Tuşba
(Van) as the capital in 1000BC, contributed important works of art to Turkish
heritage.
The end of 2000BC saw the first Hellenist colonies begin to settle in the
western areas of Anatolia as a result of the Dorian migrations. The effect of
Ion civilization had significantly increased in Western Anatolia after the year
1050BC. Karia, Lycia and Lydian Civilizations had their most advanced periods
between 700BC and 600BC.
The Lydians were the first to use currency in the form of coins. They founded a
state in the middle of the Aegean Region with the capital city of Sardes but
were destroyed by Persians in 546BD. The combination of Persian and Greek
cultures gave rise to the first Greco- Persian Style art works.
The Hellenistic Period (333-30BC) began after the invasion of Anatolia by
Alexander the Great. Much of the ornamental architecture in the cities of the
Aegean dates from this period. The ensuing Roman Empire saw major cultural
improvement. After 395, the Empire was divided in two with the beginning of the
Byzantium period and corresponding art works.
In 1453, the Turks who had begun to settle in Anatolia during the period of
Great Seljuk’s Empire in the 11th Century conquered Istanbul. Architecture began
to be influenced by Islam with emphasis on building educational institutions and
hospitals.
The Ottomans, who founded a state in 1299 and later, an Empire, secured the
unification of Anatolia during Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s reign. The borders of the
empire reached to the inner parts of Iran to Central Europe and from Crimea to
Northern Africa carrying Ottoman culture to these newly conquered lands and
bringing back ideas from across the borders.
The Republic of Turkey was founded in 29 October 1923 after the Turkish War of
Independence under.
|
|