Ancient Turkey Map
Asia Minor is the most western region of Asia and is the largest section of modern Turkey. Asia Minor is also called Anatolia. In the second millennium B.C. it was the center of the Hittite Empire. Following the Dorian Invasion, Greeks migrated to Asia Minor. In 546 B.C., the Persian King Cyrus II conquered Asia Minor. Then in 333, Alexander the Great conquered it. Most of Asia Minor later became part of the Roman and Byzantine Empires.The northern states of Asia Minor were Mysia (8200 sq mi), Bithynia (12,500), Pontus (22,800), and Paphlagonia (13,700); the central states were Lydia (9,300 sq. mi.), Phrygia (23,200), Galatia (14,100), and Cappadocia (30,700); the southern states were Caria (5,700 sq. mi.), Lycia (3,200), Pamphylia (8,800), and Cilicia (12,300).
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Ancient Turkey Map - 1736 |
Apostles in Anatolia - 1881 |
Turkey in Asia and Arabia - 1747 |
Phrygia
Phrygia was a region of Anatolia whose people spoke Phrygian.
Its main cities included Ancyra and Gordium. Phrygia included
the Troad, whose main city was Troy. The Phrygians are believed
to have been "Sea People." Phrygia probably gained prominence
only after the 8th century B.C. During the Hellenistic period,
the area was settled by Gallic Galatians and renamed Galatia.
Galatia
Celtic tribes reached and plundered Asia Minor in the3rd Century
B.C. 3 Celtic tribes settled in Tolistobogii, Tectosages, and
Trocmi. Attalus I of Pergamum beat them c. 230 B.C., and then in
190, the Romans defeated them under Cn. Manlius Vulso.
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Anatolia Asia Minor - 1747 |
Turkey in Asia - 1794 |
Turkey in Asia - 1794 |
Mysia
Mysia was a region on the northwest coast of Asia Minor, whose
main cities were Cyzicus and Teuthrania (Pergamon), located on
the river Caicus and founded by Teuthras. There is a Mt. Olympus
in Mysia. In the Trojan War, the Greek fleet landed at Mysia,
mistaking it for Troy.
Lydia
Lydia was a region of Asia Minor between Mysia and Caria named
for Lydus, the son of Attis. Sardis, on the river of Patroclus,
was the main Lydian city. It was King Croesus' capital city.
Lydia dominated western Anatolia from 690 to 546 B.C. There were
three Lydian dynasties: Atyads, Heraclids (descendants of
Hercules), and the Mermnads. Their language was of I-E origins
and may have created coins.
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Turkey in Asia - 1801 |
Turkey in Europe - 1794 |
Ancient Turkey Map - 1731 |
Caria
Caria, a mountainous coastal area of southwest Asia Minor, was
bordered by Lydia and Lycia. Its most famous city, Miletus,
(originally Anactoria), was an important Ionian city until it
became Persian. Miletus was a son of Apollo. Caria became part
of the Lydian kingdom in the 6th century B.C. Carian kings,
including Mausolus, whose widow, Artemisia, built the Mausoleum
at Halicarnassus, one of 7 wonders of the ancient world,
continued to rule Caria after it became subject to Persia. Many
Carians supported the Ionian Greeks against Darius, in the
Persian Wars, although an earlier Queen Artemisia supported
Xerxes.
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Ancient Turkey Map - 1747 |
Asia Minor - 1830 |
Ancient Turkey Map - 1895 |
Lycia
Lycia was in southern Asia Minor and was inhabited by the
Milyans and Solymi. Cretans lived in Lycia and were called
Termilae. Sarpedon co-ruled with Lycus of Athens, brother of
Aegeus. Lycia was named after him. Lycia and Cilicia alone of
the Asia Minor countries, were not conquered by Croesus, but
Lycia was conquered by the Persians under Cyrus the Great.
Cilicia
Cilicia, in southeastern Asia Minor, with Syria to the east, was
named for Cilix, son of Agenor of Sidon, and brother of Cadmus
and Europa. The main cities of Cilicia were Tarsus, Seleucia,
and Issus. During the Persian period (6-4th C. B.C)Cilicia
remained independent, paying tribute to Persia. Most of Cilicia
became part of the Seleucid Empire after Alexander the Great.
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Asia Minor - 1895 |
Asia Minor - 1835 |
Asia Minor - 1804 |
Pontus and Bithynia
Before Alexander, Pontus was ruled as part of a Persian satrapy,
but gained prominence under Mithridates I Ctistes. Its most
important king was Mithridates VI. Bithynia was in northwestern
Asia Minor, by the Marmara and Black Seas. Hittites may have
lived there. Later inhabitants were Thracians and perhaps,
Amazons. It was taken by Croesus and became Persian. It was also
a Roman province.
Paphlagonia
Located between Pontus and Bithynia was the coastal area of
Paphlagonia, known for its timber. Augustus attached the area to
Galatia.
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Asia Minor - 1804 |
Turkey in Asia - 1823 |
Turkey in Asia - 1851 |
Anatolia
Anatolia is now the part of Turkey in Asia. Asia Minor is the
Latin name for Anatolia. The Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea
are on its borders. Colchis, home of the mythical Medea, was
east of the Black Sea near this region. Important legendary and
historic figures from the area include the goddess Cybele, the
kings Tantalus, Midas, Gordius, Croesus, Cyrus, and Mithridates,
and the literary figures Homer and Aesop.