Ankara From Hittites To Turkey

We have compiled the history of the Republic of Turkey's Capital which dates back to Palaeolithic Age, to thousands of years ago. And it is not like the boring history classes. It is just like a story! So, let's start and find out what was Ankara and what happened.

First Before Common Era

We are at a time loooong before today. While we are back to thousands of years, we had to stop at the before common era. The traces of settled human life in Ankara goes back to exactly 5000 years ago at the place which is known today as Polatlı. In other words, Ankara was like a capital, even in 3000 BC.

Alright, let's come closer to today, but we are still in the before common era... Hittites existed from 1660 BC to 1190 BC and have its name written in gold letters on all history books as one of the most significant ancient civilizations of Anatolia, and they came to Ankara... This Indo-European tribe entering in Anatolia through the Straits settled in and around Ankara around 2000 BC even though the exact date is not known. However, when it was towards the end of 2000 BC, the Hittites left their places to the Phrygians, and they spread quickly in the region.

The Phrygian Kingdom ruled, for a long time, in and around Polatlı, which was then named as Gordion. Especially during the reign of King Midas, in other words in 725-675 BC, this beautiful city experienced its most brilliant era. After some time, in 700 BC, this time the Phrygians were destroyed by the Cimmerians, who came from the Caucasus. That is to say, Cimmerians did the same to Phrygians what they did to the Hittites.

And What About Then?

Then the Lydians came to Ankara and their reign in the region, which started in the 7th century BC, lasted exactly for 140 years. They developed the city from the husbandry to olive oil production, from wine to the cereal production and increased the cultural wealth of the city. So, did Meds and Persians just wait? Of course not! They attacked the Lydians to conquer this beauty. Then the reign of the Persians started...

We are still in the before common era. The Persians started to rule the Anatolian land since 545 BC, and thus they ended the Hellenistic Era. Today's Ankara was named as Gordion and Ankyra in two regions, and these regions were ruled respectively by Hattians, Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians and Galatians, who were famous for their military skills.

After such chaos, the Roman Empire came to the region and conquered Ankara in 25 BC. When the Roman Empire was divided into two in 395 AD, Ankara was included in the reign of the Eastern Roman Empire... Romans did not leave Ankara until 654 AD. They poured their all cultural heritage and intellectual development into the city. Then the Muslim Arabs came to the region and seized Ankara from the hands of the Eastern Roman Empire.

In 833 - 842, Abbasid Khalifa Mutasım and his Turkish commander Afşin ruled Ankara city for a short time. After them, the ruler of the city changed for a few times, but Romans took Ankara back every time. Until the arrival of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire.

From Seljuks To Ottoman

As any clear resource is not available, it is estimated that Ankara was turned into a land for Turks by Artuk Bey and Danişmend Gazi in 1071 - 1073. And the Anatolian Seljuks started to rule Ankara in the 12th and 13th centuries. Then, the Seljuks, who granted autonomy to the Ahi Community in the region, accepted the region to occupied with the Ottoman Empire.

From Ottoman To Turkey

During the Independence War and the Republican period, Ankara was declared as the capital in the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Ankara was located in the geopolitically most sheltered region of the young Republic of Turkey, and it was rich for its history and culture. Therefore, Ankara did not only become the capital but also gave life to Turkey in its history through the veteran assembly and its lands covering thousands of years...