Anatolia

Anatolia (Greek: ανατολή anatolē or anatolí) is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey. It means "rising of the sun" or "East", is also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, and is sometimes falsely associated with Anadolu to ana "mother" and dolu "filled" by popular etymology Turkish.

Related Topics:
Greek - Southwest Asia - Asia - Turkey - Latin - Popular etymology - Turkish

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Because of its strategic location at the intersection of Asia and Europe, Anatolia has been a cradle for several civilizations since prehistoric ages, with neolithic settlements such as Catal Höyük (pottery neolithic), Cayönü (Pre-Pottery Neolithic A to pottery Neolithic), Nevali Cori (PPN B), Hacilar (pottery neolithic), Göbekli Tepe (PPN A) and Mersin. The settlement of Troy starts in the Neolithic, but continues up into the Iron age.

Related Topics:
Europe - Civilization - Prehistoric - Neolithic - Catal Höyük - Cayönü - Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Nevali Cori - PPN B - Hacilar - Göbekli Tepe - Mersin - Troy

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Major civilizations and peoples that have settled in or conquered Anatolia include the Colchians, Hattians, Luwians, Hittites, Phrygians, Cimmerians, Lydians, Persians, Celts, Tabals, Meshechs, Greeks, Pelasgians, Armenians, Romans, Goths, Kurds, Byzantines, Seljuk Turks, and Ottomans. These peoples belonged to many varied ethnic and linguistic traditions. Through recorded history, Anatolians have spoken both Indo-European and Semitic languages, as well as many languages of uncertain affiliation. In fact, given the antiquity of the Indo-European Hittite and Luwian languages, some scholars have proposed Anatolia as the hypothetical center from which the Indo-European languages have radiated. Other authors have proposed an Anatolian origin for the Etruscans of ancient Italy.

Related Topics:
Colchians - Hattians - Luwian - Hittites - Phrygia - Cimmerian - Lydia - Persia - Celt - Tabal - Meshech - Greeks - Pelasgians - Armenia - Romans - Goths - Kurds - Byzantines - Seljuk Turks - Ottomans - Ethnic - Linguistic - Indo-European - Semitic - Hittite - Etruscans - Italy

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Today the inhabitants of Anatolia are mostly native speakers of the Turkish language, which was introduced with the conquest of Anatolia by Turkic peoples and the rise of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century. However, Anatolia remained multi-ethnic until the early 20th century until the Turkish War of Independence when population exchange between Turkey and Greece took place as result of the Treaty of Lausanne. A significant Kurdish ethnic and linguistic minority exists in the south eastern regions.

Related Topics:
Turkish language - Turkic peoples - Seljuk Empire - 11th century - 20th century - Turkish War of Independence - Kurdish

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