Ankara

Crossroads of Trade History

The central Anatolian plateau, ochre-hued, cleft by ravines and dominated by volcanic peaks, forms the heartland of Türkiye. Covered with wheatfields and outlined with ranks of poplars, the boldly contoured steppe has a solitary majesty. This plateau was one of the cradles of human civilization. At Catalhoyuk, remains of settlements from as early as the eighth millennium B.C. have been unearthed. The homeland of many people and the historic battleground of East and West; here the Hattis, Hittites, Phrygians, Galatians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans all fought for their sovereignty and established their rule. In the 11th century, the migrating Turks from the east made the plateau their own. During its turbulent history, Central Anatolia has endured invasion by great conquerors, such as Alexander the Great and Tamerlane. In the course of ten millennia of habitation, the denizens of the area have reflected in their art - from the vigorous paintings of Catalhoyuk and the confident lines of Seljuk architecture, to, more recently, the impressive modern form of Ataturk's mausoleum - the dramatic contours of the surrounding landscape.
The city, an important cultural, trading, and arts center in Roman times, and an important trading center on the caravan route to the east in Ottoman times, had declined in importance by the 19th century. It again became an important center when Kemal Ataturk chose it as the base from which to direct the War of Liberation. By consequence of its role in the war and its strategic position, it was declared the capital of the new Turkish Republic on October 13,1923.