Maps of Anatolia

Anatolia Map with Short History of Asia Minor and Turkey

Anaolia is a broad peninsula located between the Asia and Europe. Anatolia is also known as Asia Minor or Lesser Asia. Anatolia had been a home of ancient civilizations as well as the greatest empires of the world.

Ancient Anatolia

Hittites, Assyrians, Greeks and Persians dominated the lands of Anatolia from 2000 B.C and onwards. Alexander the Great crossed through the Anatolia on the way to Persia and Asia. Alexander conquered entire Anatolia as well as its southern neighbor Mesopotamia.

Anatolia (Asia Minor) Map, History, Facts

Ancient Names Of Anatolian Cities

Age Of Empires

Three mighty Empires ruled in Anatolia from 4th Century A.D. to the 20th century. Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire. The capital was the same for all of them: Istanbul. Istanbul symbolizes the Anatolia perfectly due to its perfect strategical position.

Significance of Istanbul and Bosphorus

As Anatolia is like a broad bridge between the Europe and Asia, Istanbul stands like a little miniature of it and connects the two continents. More than that, Bosphorus Strait of Istanbul ties the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara. This unique location makes Istanbul the heart of Eurasia.

Map of Ancient Civilizations in Anatolia

Anatolia Under The Rule Of Roman Empire

Romans not only conquered the Anatolia but they made it a major state of Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine the Great, moved the royalty of Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople (Istanbul) in 330 A.D. It boosted the importance of Anatolia.

Division of the Roman Empire 395 AD

Anatolia Of Byzantine Empire or Byzantium

The Byzantine Empire was an extention of the Roman Empire. Roman Empire divided by East and West by the Emperor Theodosius.

Eastern Roman Empire had Balkans, Anatolia and majority of Middle East. When the Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 A.D. Eastern Roman Empire became the only super-state of late antiquity. Historians named it as Byzantine Empire in the modern history.

Byzantine Empire reached to its greatest extention by the rule of Emperor Justinian. Constantinople and Anatolia became the heartland of the growing empire in the 6th century.

The Byzantine Empire Under Justinian’s Rule

Anatolia During The Empire of Seljuk Turks

Seljuk Turks migrated from the Central Asia to the west. They settled to Persia, took control of eastern and southern borders of Anatolia. Byzantine Empire fought against them but they lost the deadly Battle of Manzikert. As a result, Turks flooded into Anatolia, capturing the Central and Eastern Anatolia.

The March of Seljuk Turks to Anatolia Map

Turks had lived in Central Asia during the ancient ages. Seljuk Turks were the first Turkish State who marched to West. There are articles about Great Empire of Seljuks and the Battle of Manzikert as well.

Seljuk Sultanate of Rum

Upon the fall of  Seljuk Empire another Seljuk State is established: Seljuk Sultanate Of Rum. It lasted from 1077 to 1307. Seljuk Sultanate lost Battle of Kosedag (1243) against Mongol Empire. This was the beginning of the end. They could not stand against the pressure caused by immigration from the East and finally fell.

Anatolia as the Heartland of Ottoman Empire

Ottoman princedom was one of the many pieces that was left from Seljuk Sultanate. The first Ottoman rulers accomplished considerable advance against the declining Byzantine Empire. They finally captured Constantinople too.

Ottomans achieved continuous growth from 1299 to 1699. They reached their peak point by the time of Suleiman The Magnificent. The growth slowed down after the Sultan Suleiman.

The Ottoman Empire Map

Anatolia Covers Majority Of Modern Turkish Republic

Ottoman Empire’s long and steady decline lasted throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries. Eventually, it collapsed following the World War I. Majority Anatolia and Istanbul were occupied by victorious allied forces.

Formation of Modern Turkey Post WW1

The former generals of disarmed Ottoman army revolted against the last of the Ottoman Sultans and the occupier forces. Among leaders of newly formed Independence Army, there was the founder of Turkish Republic: Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The heartland of Ottoman Empire, Anatolia, was secured by Ataturk (Meaning Father Of Turks). New Turkish Parliament established. Modern Turkey is founded by him following the 4 years struggle for indepence from 1918 to 1922.

Modern Turkey on Anatolia Map

Turkey Regions

%97 of Turkey is situated on the Asia in other words Anatolia. The %3 of Turkey is settled on Balkans (Thrace). Turkey is geographically divided by 7 regions. The largest city of Turkey: Istanbul is located in Marmara region; whereas the capital: Ankara located in Central Anatolia.

Regions Of Turkey

Turkey Weather

Seven regions of Turkey has 4 different climate. Aegean and Mediterranean regions with mild Mediterranean climate. Marmara is very similar to them except for cooler winters. Central, Eastern, Southeast Anatolia has Continental climate with very cold winters and boiling hot summers. Incomparably northern part of Turkey has Black Sea climate which is similar to that of Great Britain. Very humid and rainy.

Turkey Weather Map

Major Cities Of Turkey

Turkey has 81 cities. Among them Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, Adana, Konya, Kayseri, Bursa, Kocaeli, Mersin, Diyarbakır are the leading metropolises.

Cities of Turkey Map

---

Further Recommended Reading:

• Roman Empire Map
• Byzantine Empire Map
• Ottoman Empire Map

---

Anatolia and Asia Minor Map By Serhat Engul