Anatolia 854 225917945 2008-07-16T00:31:51Z GargoyleBot 6678853 Remove per [[Wikipedia:Templates_for_deletion/Log/2008_July_4#Template:Redirectstohere|TfD]]. {{otheruses|Anatolia (disambiguation)}} {{Copyedit|date=September 2007}} [[Image:Anatolia composite NASA.png|thumb|300px|Anatolia lies east of the [[Bosporus]], between the [[Black Sea]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]].]] [[Image:Anatolia and Europe NASA modified.PNG|thumb|300px|Anatolia shown in relation to [[Europe]].]] '''Anatolia''' ({{Lang-tr|Anadolu}}) ({{Lang-gr|Ανατολία}}, ''{{Unicode|Anatolía}}'') or '''Asia minor''', comprising most of modern [[Turkey]], is the geographic region bounded by the [[Black Sea]] to the north, the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the south, the [[Aegean Sea]] to the west, and the bulk of the Asian mainland to the east. == Name == The name ''Anatolia'' comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] {{Unicode|Aνατολή}} (''{{Unicode|Αnatolí}}''), "rise (i.e. sunrise)," or {{Unicode|Ανατολία}} (''{{Unicode|Anatolía}}''), "(land) of the sunrise" or simply the "East."<ref name="etym">[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%237638 Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It likely dates back at least 3,000 years, from the [[Ionian]] settlement period called the [[1st millennium BC]]. ''(See also [[Ionian League]])''. The [[Byzantine Greek]] term ''Anatolikon'' (the "Eastern One") signified the lands to the East of Europe and of the [[Byzantine Empire]]'s capital city of [[Constantinople]] (now [[Istanbul]]).<ref>"On the First [[Thema]], Called Anatolikon. This theme is called Anatolikon, not because it is above and in the direction of the east where the sun rises, but because it lies East of Byzantium and Europe." Constantine VII Porphyogenitus, ''De Thematibus'', ed. A. Pertusi. [[Vatican Publishing House|Vatican]]: [[Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana]], 1952, pp. 59-61.{{Clarifyme|date=September 2007}}</ref> The etymology of the word supports the idea that Anatolia was a peninsula bordered by the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Eastern [[Taurus Mountains|Taurus Range]]. The [[Turkish language|Turkish]] form ''Anadolu'' derives from the Greek version{{ndash}} both which predated the growth of Constantinople across the [[Bosporus]] [[strait]] to both continental shores. Turkish [[folk etymology]] further breaks down the geographical term into two words: ''Ana'' ("mother") and ''Dolu'' ("full"). Thus, the name means "Full of Motherliness" and is used to advance a pedagogical ideal: Women's contribution of mother's milk to national masculine bravery.<ref>Sam Kaplan, "''Din-u Devlet'' All Over Again?", ''International Journal of Middle East Studies'', 34:117 (2002)</ref> Less literally, the term is sometimes interpreted as ''Mother of Cities'', referring to Constantinople, perhaps dating to the pre-[[Islam]]ic era when the Byzantine Empire was the biggest [[international power]] known in that part of Asia, and occupied the entire region. {{details|Names of Anatolia}} ==Physical geography== [[Image:Turkey topo.jpg|thumb|left|400px|[[Terrain|Relief]] [[map]] of Turkey]] The Anatolian peninsula is bounded by the [[Black Sea]] to the north, the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the south, the [[Aegean Sea]] (itself an arm of the Mediterranean) to the west, and the bulk of the Asian mainland to the east. Anatolia's terrain is structurally complex. A central [[massif]] composed of uplifted blocks and downfolded [[Trough (geology)|troughs]], covered by recent [[Deposit (geology)|deposit]]s and giving the appearance of a plateau with rough terrain, is wedged between two folded mountain ranges that converge in the east. True lowland is confined to a few narrow coastal strips along the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea coasts. Flat or gently sloping land is rare and largely confined to the deltas of the [[Kızıl River]], the coastal plains of [[Çukurova]], and the valley floors of the [[Gediz|Gediz River]] and the [[Büyük Menderes River]], and some interior high plains in Anatolia, mainly around ''[[Lake Tuz|Tuz Gölü]]'' (Salt Lake) and ''[[Konya]] Ovası'' (Konya Basin). === Black Sea region=== The Black Sea region has a steep, rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges. The North Anatolian mountains are an interrupted chain of folded highlands that generally parallel the Black Sea coast. A few larger rivers, those cutting back through the [[Pontic Mountains]] ({{Lang-tr|Kaçkar Dağları}}), have tributaries that flow in broad, elevated basins. Rivers flow from the mountains toward the Black Sea trough in lengthy valleys. Access inland from the coast is limited to a few narrow valleys because mountain ridges, with elevations of 1,525 to 1,800 metres (5,000 to 5,900 ft) in the west and 3,000 to 4,000 metres (10000 to 13000 ft) in the east in [[Kaçkar Mountains]], form an almost unbroken wall separating the coast from the interior. The higher slopes facing southwest tend to be densely wet. Because of these natural conditions, the Black Sea coast historically has been isolated from Anatolia. The southern slopes&mdash;facing the Anatolian Plateau&mdash;are mostly unwooded, but the northern slopes contain dense growths of both deciduous and evergreen trees. ===Mediterranean region=== [[Image:Gelidonya lighthouse.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Scene from southern Anatolia]] The narrow coastal plains of the Mediterranean region, separated from the Anatolian plateau by the [[Taurus Mountains]], which reach elevations of 2,000 to 2,750 metres (6600 to 9000 ft), are cultivated intensively. [[Fertile soil]]s and a warm climate make the Mediterranean coast ideal for growing citrus fruits, grapes, figs, bananas, various vegetables, barley, wheat, and, in irrigated areas, rice and cotton. The Çukurova in the east is a plain that is the most developed agricultural area of the Mediterranean region. ===Anatolian plateau=== <!-- Let this section focus on the Anatolian Plateau --> Stretching inland from the Aegean coastal plain, Central Anatolia occupies the area between the two zones of the folded mountains, extending east to the point where the two ranges converge. The plateau-like, semiarid highlands of Anatolia are considered the heartland of the country. The region varies in elevation from 600 to 1,200 meters (2000 to 4000 ft) from west to east. The two largest basins on the plateau are the ''Konya Ovası'' and the basin occupied by the large salt lake, ''Tuz Gölü''. Both basins are characterized by inland drainage. Wooded areas are confined to the northwest and northeast of the plateau. Mountains close to the coast prevent Mediterranean influences from extending inland, giving the interior of Turkey a [[continental climate]] with distinct seasons. The Anatolian Plateau is much more subject to extremes than are the coastal areas. Winters on the plateau are especially severe. Temperatures of -30 °C to -40 °C (-22 °F to -40 °F) can occur in the mountainous areas in the east, and snow may lie on the ground 120 days of the year. In the west, winter temperatures average below 1 °C (34 °F). Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F). Annual precipitation averages about 400 mm (15.7 inches), with actual amounts determined by elevation. The driest regions are the ''Konya Ovası'' and the ''[[Malatya]] Ovası'', where annual rainfall frequently is less than 300 mm (11.8 inches). May is generally the driest month and July and August are the wettest. ===Eastern Anatolia=== Eastern Anatolia where the Pontus and Taurus mountain ranges converge, is rugged country with higher elevations, a more severe climate, and greater precipitation than are found on the Anatolian Plateau. The region is known as the Anti-Taurus, and the average elevation of its peaks exceeds 3,000 m. [[Mount Ararat]], at 5,137 metres (16854 ft) the highest point in Turkey, is located in the Anti-Taurus. [[Lake Van]] is situated in the mountains at an elevation of 1,546 metres (5072 ft). The headwaters of three major rivers arise in the Anti-Taurus: the east-flowing [[Aras River]], which empties into the [[Caspian Sea]]; the south-flowing [[Euphrates]] and [[Tigris]] join in [[Iraq]] before emptying into the [[Persian Gulf]]. Several small streams that empty into the Black Sea or landlocked Lake Van also originate in these mountains. Southeast Anatolia lies south of the Anti-Taurus Mountains. It is a region of rolling hills and a broad plateau surface that extends into Syria. Elevations decrease gradually, from about 800 metres (2600 ft) in the north to about 500 metres (1600 ft) in the south. Traditionally, [[wheat]] and [[barley]] were the main crops of the region, but the [[Southeastern Anatolia Project|inauguration of major new irrigation projects]] in the 1980s has led to greater agricultural diversity and development. ==Climate== <gallery caption="Temperatures of Anatolia"> image:Klima_ankara.png|[[Ankara]] (central Anatolia) image:Klima_antalya.png|[[Antalya]] (southern Anatolia) image:Klima_van.png|[[Van, Turkey|Van]] (eastern Anatolia) </gallery> == Ecoregions == [[Image:Cimakli Village in Espiye, Giresun Turkey.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Mountain pastures of northern Anatolia]] Anatolia's diverse topography and climate has fostered a similar diversity of plant and animal communities. The mountains and coastal plain of northern Anatolia, with its humid and mild climate, is home to [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests|temperate broadleaf, mixed]], and [[temperate coniferous forest|coniferous]] forests. The central and eastern plateau, with its drier [[continental climate]], is home to deciduous forests and forest steppes. Western and southern Anatolia, which have a [[Mediterranean climate]], are home to [[Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrub]] ecoregions. * [[Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests]]: These temperate broadleaf and mixed forests extend across northern Anatolia, lying between the mountains of northern Anatolia and the Black Sea. They include the enclaves of [[temperate rainforest]] lying along the southeastern coast of the Black Sea in eastern Turkey and Georgia.<ref> "Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests" WWF scientific report. Accessed May 25 2008. [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0422_full.html] </ref> * [[Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests]]: These forests occupy the mountains of northern Anatolia, running east and west between the coastal Euxine-Colchic forests and the drier, continental climate forests of central and eastern Anatolia. <ref> "Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests" WWF scientific report. Accessed May 25 2008. [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0515_full.html] </ref> * [[Central Anatolian deciduous forests]]: These forests of deciduous oaks and evergreen pines cover the plateau of central Anatolia. <ref> "Central Anatolian deciduous forests" National Geographic ecoregion profile. Accessed May 25, 2008 [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0410.html] </ref> * [[Central Anatolian steppe]]: These dry grasslands cover the drier valleys and surround the saline lakes of central Anatolia, and include [[halophytic]] (salt tolerant) plant communities. <ref> "Central Anatolian steppe" WWF scientific Report. Accessed May 25 2008 [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0803_full.html] </ref> * [[Eastern Anatolian deciduous forests]]: This ecoregion occupies the plateau of eastern Anatolia. The drier and more continental climate is home to steppe-forests dominated by deciduous oaks, with areas of shrubland, montane forest, and valley forest. <ref> "Eastern Anatolian deciduous forests" WWF scientific report. Accessed May 25 2008. [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0420_full.html] </ref> * [[Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests]] These forests occupy the western, Mediterranean-climate portion of the Anatolian plateau. Pine forests and mixed pine and oak woodlands and shrublands are predominant. <ref>"Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests" WWF scientific report. Accessed May 25 2008 [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1202_full.html] </ref> * [[Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests]]: These Mediterranean-climate forests occupy the coastal lowlands and valleys of western Anatolia bordering the Aegean Sea. The ecoregion is home to forests of [[Turkish Pine]] ''(Pinus brutia)'', oak forests and woodlands, and [[maquis shrubland]] of Turkish Pine and evergreen [[sclerophyll]]ous trees and shrubs, including [[Olive]] ''(Olea europaea)'', [[Strawberry Tree]] ''(Arbutus unedo)'', ''[[Arbutus andrachne]]'', [[Kermes Oak]] ''(Quercus coccifera)'', and [[Bay Laurel]] ''(Laurus nobilis)''. <ref>Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests" WWF scientific report. Accessed May 25 2008 [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1201_full.html] </ref> * [[Southern Anatolian montane conifer and deciduous forests]]: These mountain forests occupy the Mediterranean-climate [[Taurus Mountains]] of southern Anatolia. Conifer forests are predominant, chiefly [[Anatolian black pine]] ''(Pinus nigra)'', [[Cedar of Lebanon]] ''(Cedrus libani)'', [[Taurus fir]] ''(Abies cilicica)'', and [[juniper]] ''([[Juniperus foetidissima]]'' and ''[[Juniperus excelsa|J. excelsa]])''. Broadleaf trees include oaks, [[hornbeam]], and [[maple]]s. <ref>"Southern Anatolian montane conifer and deciduous forests" WWF scientific report. Accessed May 25 2008 [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1220_full.html]</ref> * [[Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests]]: This ecoregion occupies the coastal strip of southern Anatolia, between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Plant communities include broadleaf sclerophyllous maquis shrublands, forests of [[Aleppo Pine]] ''(Pinus halepensis)'' and Turkish Pine ''(Pinus brutia)'', and dry oak ''(Quercus'' spp.) woodlands and steppes. <ref>"SEastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests" WWF scientific report. Accessed May 25, 2008 http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1207_full.html]</ref> == History == {{main|History of Anatolia}} [[Image:Western Anatolian knotted woll carpet with 'Lotto' patern, 16th century, Saint Louis Art Museum.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Western Anatolian knotted wool ‘[[Lotto carpet]]’, 16th century, [[Saint Louis Art Museum]]]]Because of its strategic location at the intersection of [[Asia]] and [[Europe]], Anatolia has been the center of several civilizations since prehistoric times. [[Neolithic]] settlements such as [[Çatalhöyük]], [[Çayönü]], [[Nevali Cori]], [[Hacilar]], [[Göbekli Tepe]], and [[Mersin]] are being explored by [[archaeologists]]. Through recorded history, Anatolians have spoken both [[Indo-European]] and [[Semitic]] languages, as well as many languages of uncertain affiliations. 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 originated. The earliest definitive record of rule in Anatolia is from the [[Akkadian Empire]] under [[Sargon]] in the 24th century BCE. The region was famous for exporting various raw materials .<ref name="Freeman">{{cite book|last=Freeman|first=Charles|title=Egypt, Greece and Rome: Civilizations of the Ancient Mediterranean|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1999|isbn=0198721943}}</ref> [[Akkad]] suffered problematic [[climate]] changes in [[Mesopotamia]], as well as a reduction in available manpower that affected trade. This led to the fall of the [[Akkadian Empire|Akkadians]] around 2150 BCE at the hands of the [[Gutians]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Saggs|first=H.W.F.|title=Babylonians|publisher=University of California Press|year=2000|isbn=0520202228}}</ref> After the Gutians were vanquished, the [[Assyrian Empire]] claimed the resources, notably [[silver]]. One of the numerous Assyrian [[cuneiform]] records found in Anatolia at [[Kanesh]] uses an advanced system of trading computations and credit lines.<ref name="Freeman">{{cite book|last=Freeman|first=Charles|title=Egypt, Greece and Rome: Civilizations of the Ancient Mediterranean|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1999|isbn=0198721943}}</ref> More than 2500 years ago, the area was home for [[Armenian people|Armenians]]. In the first century BC, it was a part of the domain of the Armenian king [[Tigran]] who reigned throughout much of the region situated between the [[Caspian]], [[Black]] and [[Mediterranean]] seas. The [[Turkish language]] was introduced gradually with the conquest of Anatolia by [[Turkic peoples]] from the 11th century AD. Anatolia remained multi-ethnic until the early 20th century (see [[Rise of Nationalism under the Ottoman Empire]]). Beginning in 1915, the indigenous Christian [[Armenian people|Armenian]] population of Eastern Anatolia was systematically wiped out{{Fact|date=June 2008}}, and by the time the Turkish Republic was established there were few Armenians left in the Anatolian interior (see [[Armenian Genocide]]). Greeks who were native to Western Anatolia were also driven out, notable in the [[population exchange between Greece and Turkey]], which occurred as a result of the [[Treaty of Lausanne]], where most of the Turks in Greece were moved to Turkey and vice versa. Today, the inhabitants of Anatolia are mainly Turks and [[Kurd]]s as well as [[Assyrian]] and [[Chaldean Catholics|Chaldean]] Christians, an [[Minority group|ethnic]] and [[Minority language|linguistic minority]] who exist in the southeastern regions. [[Georgians]] ''(see [[Chveneburi]])'' have a presence in the northeast. == References == {{Reflist}} <!--For ease of standardization, use a citation template from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Template_messages/Sources_of_articles#Citations_of_generic_sources --> ==See also== *[[Anatolianism]] *[[History of Anatolia]] *[[Anatolian Turkish Beyliks]] *[[1268 Cilicia earthquake]] *[[Anatolian Bulgarians]] *[[Ancient Greece]] *[[Armenia]] *[[Byzantine Empire]] *[[Caria]] *[[Cilicia]] *[[Etruscans]] *[[Hittites]] *[[Kurd]] *[[Lycia]] *[[Lydia]] *[[Ottoman Empire]] *[[Pamphylia]] *[[Phrygia]] *[[Pontus]] *[[Saint Anatolia]], [[Roman Catholic]] Saint *[[Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm]] *[[Turkey]] == External links == {{Template group |list = {{History of Anatolia}} {{Turkey topics}} {{Regions of the world}} {{Physical geography topics}} {{Geography topics}} }} [[Category:Geography of Turkey]] [[Category:Ancient Greek geography]] [[Category:Peninsulas of Asia]] [[Category:Physiographic provinces]] [[ar:أناضول]] [[arc:ܐܢܛܘܠܝܐ]] [[ast:Anatolia]] [[az:Kiçik Asiya]] [[bs:Anadolija]] [[bg:Мала Азия]] [[ca:Anatòlia]] [[cv:Анатоли çурутравĕ]] [[cs:Malá Asie]] [[cy:Asia Leiaf]] [[da:Anatolien]] [[de:Kleinasien]] [[et:Anatoolia]] [[el:Μικρά Ασία]] [[es:Anatolia]] [[eo:Anatolio]] [[fa:آناتولی]] [[fo:Anatolia]] [[fr:Anatolie]] [[gl:Anatolia]] [[ko:소아시아]] [[hr:Anatolija]] [[id:Anatolia]] [[is:Anatólía]] [[it:Anatolia]] [[he:אסיה הקטנה]] [[ka:ანატოლია]] [[sw:Anatolia]] [[ku:Anatoliya]] [[la:Asia Minor]] [[lv:Anatolija]] [[lb:Anatolien]] [[lt:Mažoji Azija]] [[hu:Anatólia]] [[mk:Мала Азија]] [[nl:Anatolië]] [[ja:アナトリア半島]] [[no:Anatolia]] [[nrm:P'tite Âsie]] [[nds:Anatolien]] [[pl:Anatolia (Turcja)]] [[pt:Anatólia]] [[ro:Anatolia]] [[ru:Малая Азия]] [[simple:Asia Minor]] [[sk:Malá Ázia]] [[sl:Anatolija]] [[sr:Мала Азија]] [[fi:Anatolia]] [[sv:Anatolien]] [[th:อานาโตเลีย]] [[vi:Tiểu Á]] [[tr:Anadolu]] [[uk:Мала Азія]] [[ur:اناطولیہ]] [[diq:Anatoliya]] [[zh:安那托利亞]]