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ANATOLIA FACTS
Malay Mail, Malaysia
March 14, 2006 Tuesday
ANATOLIA (Turkish: Anadolu) is a region of Southwest Asia which
corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey, as opposed to the
European portion, Rumelia.
It means 'rising of the sun' or 'East'.
The Turkish word Anadolu derives from the original Greek version.
It is also often called by its Latin name - Asia Minor.
Because of its strategic location at the intersection of Asia and
Europe, Anatolia has been a cradle for several civilizations since
prehistoric ages.
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.
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.
The Turks in Thrace were forced to leave their homes and settle in
Anatolia during the Balkan Wars.
The last population exchange, as result of the Treaty of Lausanne,
between Turkey and Greece eliminated the majority of Turks in Greece
and Greeks in Turkey.
A significant Kurdish ethnic and linguistic minority exists in the
south eastern regions, while Armenians, whose numbers were greatly
reduced during the Armenian Genocide, have a waning presence in the
northeast and in cities.
Malay Mail, Malaysia
March 14, 2006 Tuesday
ANATOLIA (Turkish: Anadolu) is a region of Southwest Asia which
corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey, as opposed to the
European portion, Rumelia.
It means 'rising of the sun' or 'East'.
The Turkish word Anadolu derives from the original Greek version.
It is also often called by its Latin name - Asia Minor.
Because of its strategic location at the intersection of Asia and
Europe, Anatolia has been a cradle for several civilizations since
prehistoric ages.
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.
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.
The Turks in Thrace were forced to leave their homes and settle in
Anatolia during the Balkan Wars.
The last population exchange, as result of the Treaty of Lausanne,
between Turkey and Greece eliminated the majority of Turks in Greece
and Greeks in Turkey.
A significant Kurdish ethnic and linguistic minority exists in the
south eastern regions, while Armenians, whose numbers were greatly
reduced during the Armenian Genocide, have a waning presence in the
northeast and in cities.