AKSARAY & HISTORICAL PLACES The first words about CAPPADOCIA were said by the mounts ERCIYES (3917 m.Argaeus) HASAN and MELENDIZ in the Cenozoic era. In one sense, CAPPADOCIA is a poem which dominates the region. It was THALES from MILETUS who knew (or calculated the solar eclipse for the first time in history. The date was B.C. May 28, 585. On the very same day, far from HILETUS the troops of Lydia and Medes were at the battle-ground and ready to fight some where around the Red River in Central Anatolia. They were unaware of Solar eclipse determined by THALES. The battle started it was the very oritical and important moment when suddenly everywhere became dark, the daylight suddenly changed into the night. The troops in shock and very surprised, thought it was wrath of the gods. Immediately peace was made. Soon they formed friendship and brotherhood and shared ASIA MINOR equally, the Red River was the border between them. 30 years later, The Medes disappeared founding the first great PERSIAN empire. Persians in order to govern the empire easily used to divide the land of the empire in small provinces. Therefore the region which was occupied by Persians soon became one of their provinces and was named as KATPATUKYA which in Persians Language means "THE LAND OF NICE HORSES" and which later (the word) became CAPPADOCIA. In fact this name was a very suitable name for the region. Because Earlier Hittites had lived in this region and the oldest text about training horses, still available, was written in their language. The princes, kings or nobles used to come to this region-to the land of Hittites to learn or to be trained . The Kingdom of Tabal, inhabited in Cappadocia, used to pay the depts to Assyrians with nothing but horses. Although this region was occupied by many different people, the name of the region remained more or less the same. After Persians, inhabitants of this region established their own Kingdom. Later, they had to accept domination of Romans and CAPPADOCIA became one of the provinces of Roman Empire. (334 BC-AD 3cm.) In the decades that followed Anatolia became thoroughly Hellenized. Trade and the growth of new cities gave the region new wealth + power So. Hellenistic Anatolia became one of the centers of western civilization. The founding of Constantinople in the 4 th century AD and the division of the empire into halves secmed to confirm Asia Minor in its central role. Beginning in the 7 th century, Moslem Arab armies appeared around region. Throughout the 8 th century, the Byzantines had been preoccupied with the ICONOCLASTIC struggles, in which disputes over the desirability of painted icons demons-rated a tremendous confusion of religious, economic and political conflicts. In about AD 800, a confederation or tribes called OGUZ TURKS was gradually heading towards Europe (Turks first appear in history 500 BC). By AD 900, many of these tribes had become Moslem. In 1071, the Selcuks, under their chief ALP ARSLAN found their way into Asia Minor with the victory at MALAZGiRT (=Marizikert). They called their state centered at KONYA, the SELCUKS. As soon as they settled down, they transformed themselves with amazing speed into gifted rulers and patrons of the arts.In 1291, Sultan OSMAN laid foundations of a new state that was to bear his name. And the OTTOMANS appeared (1453-The capture of Istanbul). Today, when we say CAPPADOCIA, it covers the area where 5 cities of Modern Turkish Republic are; Nevsehir, Nigde Aksaray, Kayseri, Kirsehir. Prof. WILLIAM M.RAMSAY, who travelled in Anatolia in 1885-1888 for "ASIA MINOR EXPLORATION GEOGRAPHY of ANATOLIA" as follow. From the very beginning of history, the ANATOLIA PENINSULA which lies like a "bridge" between EUROPE and ASIA has become the battleground between EAST+WEST through this bridge, the eastern beliefs, arts and civilizations were transferred to the WEST - to the ancient Greece Again through this very bridge, Greek civilization came back to the EAST - in different form-, up to the heart of INDIA, by means of ALEXANDER the GREAT, to occupy, to influence and even to change the East. Shortly, Persians, Arabs, Mogols, Celts, Turks all passed over this bridge just to defeat the WEST. What makes this region a battleground and a bridge is nothing but only its natural structure. Most parts of Central Anatolia is a plateau with the altitude of 1500 m. (approx) and which is surrounded by narrow and low sea-shores. Therefore, this plateau is a BORDER, from every points of view, between East+West, and also a region where the spirit of East+West meet and fight. We can easily see the stages of this fight for ages; such as in the development of ILIADA, as well as in the colorful view of the history of HEREDOT.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:50:20 +0000
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