The land today we call Turkey divided in two partes. For the part in Asia we call Anatolia, for the part in Europe we call Thrace. To know the long history of this land which goes back the Palaeolithic ages, we will separate Turkey’s history in two parts : prehistorical period and historical periods. Then separate historical periods in two parts : The period before Turkish period and Turkish period; and separate Turkish peroid in two parts : Turks before Anatolia and Turks in Anatolia
The Palaeolithic ages in Turkey began nearly 2 million years ago and last until 10.000 years ago. From findings of stone, bone and tools, from the human, plant and animals remains prove Anatolia was fairly populated in the course of the Palaeolithic ages. All periods of Palaeolithic ages can be observed in Karain Cave in Antalya.
The period when the first town life started is known as the Neolithic age and cover the years between 8000 – 5500 years BC. The characteristics of this period observed in Catalhoyuk and Hacilar.
The Period when people began to use copper in addition to stone and bone was called Chalcolithic age and comprise between 5500 – 3000 BC. In this age man cultivated cereals and herded livestock. The characteristics of this period can be observed in Hacilar, Alacahoyuk, Alisar and Canhasan.
The years between 3000 – 1200 BC. is called Bronze age. In this age in addition to copper, gold and silver, an alloy of of tin and copper, bronze started to be used to produce utensils and ornaments. During this time Hatti culture is developed in Anatolia.
Between 1950 - 1750 Assyrian colonies from Mesopotamia initiated written history of Anatolia. In central and eastern Anatolia Assyrian merchants established nearly 20 trading colonies outside the cities where the local rulers lived. So drawing the region into wider political and economic activities. Therefore the historical period in Anatolia began by coming of Assyrian colonies. Hatti culture was followed by Hittites from 1800 to 1200 BC. During these periods, Anatolia witnessed advanced social systems and the established great monuments.
After the Hittites were defeated by Sea People, Anatolia entered a dark age. Then the descendants of Hittites appeared in Syria and south-east part of Anatolia during the years 1200-700 BC. For new inhabitant of this region known as Neo-Hittites. This period from 1200 to 800 BC. at the same time known as iron age. This period is when the iron utensils came into general use instead of bronze. During dark age in Anatolia new satates were appeared: In east part of Anatolia : Urartians; In central Anatolia : Phrygians; in south-west Anatolia Pamphylian, Carians and Lycians; in west part of Anatolia: Lydians and Greeks. The cultural signs from this age remain all over Anatolia.
In the year 546, the Persians under the leadership of Cyrus the Great invaded Anatolia. More than 200 years Persain culture intermingled with Greek culture. In 334 this situation ended with invation of Anatolia by Alexander the Great. So a new period called Hellenistic period (between 330 – 30 BC.) began. After the death of Alexander the Great as result of the struggles between his generals, Alexander Empire was shared between them. Short period later Anatolia entered under Pergamon Kingdom control. According to the will of last Pergamon King Attalid III, western Anatolia entered the rule of Roman Empire. After the Roman Empire divided in to two, Byzantium became capital of Eastern Roman Empire from 4th to 15th century.
In 1071 after Malazgirt battle Seljuks started raids to Byzantine territory. In a few years Seljuk forces arrived to Aegean shore. So in Anatolia, Anatolian Seljuk State was founded as a part of the Great Seljuk State. Political unity in Anatolia was disrupted after Mongols defeated Seljukians in 1243, until the first years of XVI. Century. During this period about 20 principalities appeared in Anatolia and each one of them dominated by a local leader. Finally among these principalities, Ottomans who located on the north-west Anaotolia succeded to restore political unity in Anatolia. During reign of Suleyman the Magnificent period (1520-1566), the boundaries of the Ottoman State extended from the outskirts of Vienna to the Persian Gulf and from the Crimea to the north Africa as far as Ethiopia. Ottoman naval supremacy accepted in Mediterranean in XVI. century. Suleyman the Magnificent codified and institutionalized the classic structure of the Ottoman state and society, therefore he was called Suleyman the Law-giver, making his dominions into one of the great powers of Europe. The Ottoman Empire continued to expand its territory until the middle of the 17th century. First major defeat of Ottoman army was experienced during the siege of Vienna in 1683. According to the Treaty of Karlowitz (Karlofca) Ottomans first time lost territory in 1699. With the lossos of land and setbacks of institutions, Ottomans started established new education institutions applied in Europe to recover from this situation. Unfortunately all efforts couldn’t stop decline of Ottoman state. In 1914 Ottomans entered the First World War with Central Powers and were defeated. After the war had to sign the Mudros Armistice in 1918. Short time later Allied Powers (Entente Powers) according to the terms of the armistice began to occupy Anatolia. In 1919 -1922 under leadership of Mustafa Kemal a new army was organized and Greeks were dispelled out of Asia Minor. After the Independence War, according to the Treaty of Lausanne Turkish Republic was proclaimed and Ankara replaced as capital of new state instead of Istanbul.