Chronology of Anatolia |
Civilizations of Anatolia |
Classic Period
Anatolia, today's modern Turkey, is known as
a cradle for many ancient civilizations. The chronology
below summarizes the human history of this land.
1,000,000
15,000 BC Paleolithic Age: The earliest humans
were present in Yarimburgaz (Istanbul), Karain and Beldibi
caves (Antalya). Primitive man fashioned stone into tools
and weapons. For 4,000 years multicolored paintings,
sketches, scenes on cave walls together with the decorated
tools and Mother Goddess figurines, which symbolize the
first examples of art, demonstrate the development of mans
intellectual life. During this period ornaments were crafted
from fish bones, shells, bones and teeth of various animals. 15,000 9,000
BC Mesolithic Age: Also known as the transitional
period between Paleolithic and Neolithic Age. Handcrafted
small tools and weapons like obsidian arrow heads and blades
were characteristic of the period. The first man made
shelters, such as tents made of animal skins and reeds,
appeared during this period. This is the last phase of the
Ice Age.
9,000 5,500 BC
Neolithic Age: The beginning in Anatolian
prehistory of early agriculture and town settlements such as
Cayonu, Hacilar, and Catalhoyuk. Catalhoyuk, the largest
settlement, is known for its shrines, figurines, pottery and
mural paintings. During this period burials were inside the
homes (Intramural).
6,500 5,500 BC
Late Neolithic Age: The hayday for the Mother
Goddess figure who, depicted as a symbol of fertility,
becomes the main deity in Anatolia. Special areas of homes
became shrines and were decorated with wall paintings and
bull head emblems. Pottery and necklaces of various stones
were handcrafted the earliest know surviving textile was
found during this period in Catalhoyuk.
5,500 3,000 BC
Chalcolithic Age: Copper began to be used as well
as stone. Handmade painted pottery varied from reddish brown
on a pinkish background during the early stages to plain
grey, black or brown clay during the later stage of this
period.
4,500 3,000 BC
Late Chalcolithic: Alacahoyuk, Alisar and
Beycesultan rise to become the main settlements of the
Chalcolithic Age. In western Anatolia a major Late
Chalcolithic centre is Beycesultan located 5 km southeast of
Civril. One important group of objects found in a vessel
here was a silver ring, copper implements, a dagger and
three metal needles. Burials moved from inside the home to
cemeteries during this period (Extramural).
3,000 2,000 BC
Early Bronze Age: Anatolia enters the Bronze Age
and reaches a high level of civilization. Bronze was used to
make weapons, ornaments and utensils while copper, gold,
silver and electron was worked to produce other products.
The quality and quantity of the artifacts demonstrate that
artestry and metal crafting were important occupations which
were being used as a tool to reflect mans beliefs and
abstract concepts through his artistic ability.
This is also the period when the first urban centers emerged
in Anatolia together with the new life style namely,
urbanism. While the contemporary cultures in Mesopotamia and
Egypt engaged in mass-production, Anatolia kept its original
hand crafts and traditional production methods which have
survived until today in various artistic forms.
2,500 2,000 BC
Pre Hittite Era (Hatti Period) The first known
people of Anatolia are the Hatti people. We do not know a
lot about them due to the fact that they did not write but,
we know of their existence because they were mentioned in
the cuneiform records of the Assyrian trading colonies Karum
and the Hitite records as well.
The royal treasures of the Hatti kings, which were
fortunately found during the archaeological excavations at
Alacahoyuk, demonstrate a high level of metal crafting and a
very complex religious system. A good example of the high
level of metal crafting is this seamless hand crafted gold
crown.
2,000 - 1,800
Assyrian Trade Colonies Period: This period is
also known as the Middle Bronze Age during which the old
Assyrian state in Mesopotamia established a trading system
with Anatolia, today's modern Turkey.
Assyrian men and women worked for rulers who over powered
them. Farmers lived in villages and worked on what land they
owned while city dwellers made a life of trading or making
crafts. The craftsmen made pottery and objects of gold,
silver, bronze, ivory and wood.
The Assyrians traded goods with both nearby and distant
towns. They traded tin, perfumes, ornaments and clothe in
exchange for goods made of silver and gold. One does not
know how the trade started but for almost a century the
Assyrians maintained regular donkey caravans which consisted
of as many as 200 donkeys carrying up to 160 kilos of goods.
In 2000 BC written history began in Anatolia with the
introduction of the Assyrian language, the cuneiform script
and use of cylinder seals by the Assyrian traders. They
wrote in cuneiform script on handmade clay tablets that had
been dried in the sun or baked. These tablets were put into
clay envelopes and then sealed by re-baking, an example of
the first use of envelopes in the world. According to the
thousands of cuneiform tablets discovered at their main
trading post Kultepe, the Assyrians had established 20
independent trade colonies throughout Anatolia known as
Karum. It can be said that the Assyrians had developed the
most sophisticated trading system of their time.
1,800 1,650 BC
Proto Hittite Period: During this period of
upheaval, local kingdoms struggle to establish a great
kingdom. The first "King of Kings" in Anatolia, Anita,
ultimately established this great kingdom. The monumental
palaces and public buildings which were built during the
Early Bronze Age were burnt therefore, it is difficult to
give precise information concerning this period.
1,650 1,450 BC
Old Hittite Kingdom: Hittites (the first
Indo-European culture in the world) won the struggle to
establish a great kingdom in central Anatolia making
Hattusas their capital.
1,450 BC Hittite
Empire becomes the main power in the Middle East.
Being a vast empire and the biggest political power of its
time, Hittite art became a combination of the cultural art
of many ancient people. Here one can find examples of
Egyptian, Hatti, Sumerian and Hurrian art forms which came
together to become Hittite imperial art.
1,286 BC
The war between the Hittites and Egyptians (Kadesh War)
results in the world's first international treaty.
1,200 1,100 BC
Anatolian civilizations were destroyed by the sea people.
During this period the Trojan War results in the fall and
sack of Troy. Hattussas, the Hittite capital is destroyed
and the Hittite Empire collapses. The Empire is organized as
small city states at Carchemish, Karatepe, Zincirli and
Aslantepe.
1,100 1,000 BC
Beginning of the Greek migration to the Aegean coast of
Anatolia. Miletus becomes the first greek colony and city.
IRON AGE
900 - 600 BC
Phrygians in central Anatolia. By the 12th
century, the Phrygians, as part of the Iron Age
immigrations, were one of the main tribes that came to
Anatolia after the collapse of the Hittites. Artistically,
the Phrygians were known for their colourful mosaic
flooring, as well as, the geometric patterened terracotta
panels which they used to decorate the roofs of their
buildings. The high level of workmanship seen in the
geometric motifs of engraved metal vessels or wood inlaying
techniques demonstrates that the Phrygians attained a high
level of technology in woodwork as well as metallurgy.
Phrygians wheel-made pottery was either plain in colour or
was decorated with rectangular, triangular, zig-zag lines,
circles, checker board patterns or animal motifs.
858 650 BC
Urartion Civilization in Eastern Anatolia. The
Urartians established a state around Lake Van in eastern
Anatolia. For approximately 300 years they were a regional
power. The Urartians were renowned for their architectural
abilities in their setting, plan and construction techniques
of temples, palaces, administrative buildings and castles.
The temples and palaces, with their multicolor reception
halls, mark the contribution of Urartu to the history of
architecture. Another important feature of the Urartian art
is their wall paintings which combine bright coloured
geometric and plant motifs with various animal scenes.
Decorated bronze panels, belts, helmets, shields and
cauldrons also had an important place in Urartian art.
800 600 BC
Lycians in Western Anatolia. The history of the
Lycian's goes back to the Hittite times when they were known
as the Lukka people. During the classical times Likya, which
was located in south-western Anatolia, was one of the most
important powers of its time until its destruction by the
Persians. The remarkable monuments of the Lycians were their
house-like stone tombs which can still be seen today in
south-western Turkey.
900 - 600 BC
Lydians in Western Anatolia. In ancient times,
Lydia was the name of a fertile and geologically wealthy
region of western Anatolia. The most remarkable feature of
the Lydians is their invention of coin-shaped money. During
the first half of the 7th century, the world's first coin
was minted in Sardis, today's Salihli, Turkey. Having the
advantage of being in the centre of a prosperous trading
area the Lydians lived a very wealthy lifestyle.
800 500 BC
Ionian City States in Coastal Western Anatolia.
600 - 400 BC
Persian Invasion
400 300 BC Hellenistic Period
300 BC - 371 AD Roman
Period
371 1453 Byzantine
Period
1300 1923 Ottoman
Period
1923 ONWARD REPUBLIC OF
TURKEY
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