• Uçhisar

    WHERE is CAPPADOCIA?

    Before we talk about History of Cappadocia, we have to understand where is Cappadocia exactly. Unfortunetely lot of people think Cappadocia is one of the city in Turkey. This is not your fault. Lack of information I guess.



    Cappadocia, can be study in two region;
    1) General Cappadocia: This region covers 5 cities of Turkey. These cities are; Nevsehir, Nigde, Kirsehir, Kayseri and Aksaray. You can thik this term like this. Cappadocia is not only about formations. Cappadocia became Cappadocia because of history of humanity inside of it. Without history Cappadocia is another place with natural beauty.

    Kapadokya Nerede

    2) Rocky Cappadocia: This region covers where fairy chimneys, churches, caves, underground cities and valleys are.     Kapadokya Gezilecek Yerler



    CRADLE of CIVILIZATIONS

    Since from Assyrians till present, at least 4000 years of history... Thousands of people, tens of civilization and countless formations. The question is, why is Cappadocia this popular?

    Let's take a look at the short version of History of Cappadocia.

    Asurlular

    ASSYRIANS

    As we understand from the archeological excavations, our Assyrian friends formed a trade road between Mesopotamia and Syria. Maybe you heard about Kanesh before. Kanesh was the capital of Assyrian Trade Colonies and it was within the boundaries of Cappadocia. When Assyrians were living in Cappadocia, they gained a lot of favor from this region but the thing that they didn't know, actually they were helping Hittites. Don't get me wrong, I am not underrating their existence. Solely the other civilizations which came right after, they lived in these lands much longer, stronger and wealthier. Mine is just an analysis.
    Hattiler

    HATTIES

    We believe that Hatties were a local community who lived around Cappadocia. Contrary to popular myth, Hittites didn't settle directly to this region right after the Assyrians. Hatties were living in Cappadocia, aggriculturing, fishing in Red River maybe opening a jar of wine. In a word, the life didn't stop when Assyrians left Cappadocia.



    This little community of people kept living in the region until Hittites arrived.


    Hititler

    HITTITES

    Year 1200 B.C., people were still fighting with each other to dominate the world. Hittites discovered a lot of things in this land and sort of became the father of change. They brought their technology and socio-cultural structure to this region and they changed the Cappadocias' destiny.

    In some of the sources, they mention the underground cities in Cappadocia first carved by Hittites. Not for hiding for sure. Hittites were the strong ones at that time, they were battling against Egyptians for God sake. Probably they dug out those underground cities first storey for, either to use as a fridge or stock their weapons inside. Maybe both but not for hiding.



    There is another issue of pigeon nests. To stick with only history, I wrote another article about "Why Pigeon Nests Built?". So if you want to take a look at that article, please click the following     link.

    As a matter of fact, Hittites made great a job when they assimilated Hatties under their era. Hatties were living really simple life. So when they blend in with Hittites they changed the destiny of the Cappadocia.


    Pers ve Büyük İskender

    PERSIANS vs ALEXANDER the GREAT

    Cappadocia remained almost 300 years under the control of Persians. The reason is, Persians were trying to conquer every single place they found wasn't only show of strength. They were taxing them. They did have different types of taxation but the most popular one was Talent. One Talent weighted 26,193 kg. (57,75 lbs) of silver.



    Persians asked 360 talents of taxation per year from the locals of Cappadocia wat before Cappadocian Kingdom established. If we make a simple calculation 360 x 26,193 = 9.429,48 kg. silver. This was an annual tax and if you don't pay it, I don't think Persians would show mercy. 360 talents weren't payable so Cappadocians came with another offer. Their offer was 1500 horses, 2000 mules and 5000 sheep to pay as a tax to Persians. Incredibly they accepted this. Even now this is quite impossible to pay.

    During the Lycian times, to join Attica-Delos naval unit fee was 10 talents. Now do you recall how brutal policies the Persians had?



    Büyük İskender

    How about Alexander the Great? Have he ever been in here? This subject is open for arguement. In 334 B.C., Alexander the Great passed thru this region and we have evidences that he used Cappadocia as satrapy. However we don't know if he attacked to Cappadocia or not. When he died in 323 B.C., one out of four of his commander, Mithridates took Cappadocia under his control and started suck its resources like Persians did before. However this relax times didn't last too long. Ariarathes III was getting ready to attack him. After long political wars they decided nobody wins a thing so that's the time that they shared Cappadocia.
    North Cappadocia taken by Mithridates and South Cappadocia for Ariarthes III.



    Kapadokya Krallığı

    CAPPADOCIA KINGDOM

    Ariarthes III never liked the idea of this north and south thing but he had a plan already. In 255 B.C. he established the Cappadocia Kingdom. Mithridates caught unaware. This move changed dynamics in the region. However Mithridates never gave up after this treachery. He kept causing problems to the kingdom. Finally he dethrones Ariobarzanes I and reaches his goal. However Cappadocians weren't happy with this condition and they complained about Mithridates to Roman Empire. Finally the region turns into blood bath. War started between Roman Empire and Mithridates. Cappadocians were with the strong side, Roman Empire. That was the most logical decision because it was too obvious that strong Roman Empire would win and they did. After the war ended Roman Empire gave some lands to Cappadocian Kingdom for being allies.



    Until 17 A.D. Cappadocian Kingdom lived independent. However socio-ekonomic status and political changes they couldn't survived and decided to join Roman Empire as a state. Finally 238 years of independency was over.


    Roma İmparatorluğu

    ROMAN EMPIRE

    When Roman Period started, Kayseri became quite important for the region. One of the first names of Kayseri was Caesarea. Basically The city of Caesar. However during those years Cappadocia lost its meaning to Roman Empire. Especially when Constantinapole became capital that speeded up this process.



    Roman Empire kept controling Cappadocia State even during the raids of Arabs and Sassanians but Cappadocia maintain its existence. Until Seljuks won the battle against General Diogenes in Manzikert.


    Selçuklu İmparatorluğu

    SELJUK EMPIRE

    Seljuks were the first Turkish Empire ruled in Anatolia. After the Manzikert war, they moved all the way to Konya.

    In this land, Seljuks had to deal with numerous problems until they collapsed in 1308. Mongolian raids, civil wars, Cappadocian citizens immigrations to different states etc. On the other hand Seljuks didn't invest anything to Cappadocia. Yes they built Caravansarais and hans (accommodation facilities) just because of they were on the route of Silk Road but that was it. Mainly Cappadocia turned into a place where you can accommodate not a production land. However there is one and true reality exists in the world. If your capital falls, Empire goes.



    Maybe that's why instead of investing in Cappadocia they decided invest their capital, Konya. Onces for all, Seljuks lost their strength and started to go down. At the same time Karamanogullari Seigniory started to gain strength and got the control of the region for quite a time.


    Karamanoğulları

    KARAMANOGULLARI SEIGNIORY

    Karamanogullari ruled the Anatolia quite a while. Even they threaten the Ottoman Empire for a time. They were kind of strong. Karamanogullari ruled around Konya and south Anatolia but they always had an eye on Cappadocia. They have spoken only Turkish and banned rest of the languages, including Persian.



    Karamanogullari wanted Cappadocia really badly so they were looking for chance to have it constantly. The chance that they were pursuing came their hands in 1402. Timur won against Ottoman Empire in Ankara Battle. Karamanogullari used the opportunity well and between the years of 1402 to 1436 they succeeded to rule the Cappadocia. However this dream didn't last too long. Ottoman Empire gained their power pretty fast and overthrew the Karamanogullari Seigniory in 1483.



    Osmanlı Devleti

    OTTOMAN EMPIRE

    Just right after Karamanogullari Seigniory collapsed, Ottoman Empire started to rule Cappadocia in 15th century. Since Ottoman Empire had to deal with thousands of different problems, they couldn't take a good care of Cappadocia until 18th century. If there is no investment why to stay idea became into life so citizens of Cappadocia started to migrate different parts of Ottoman Empire. The great culture of Cappadocia started have some troubles when people left the region. During the time of Christianity, people had great culture, tradition and life style. When people left it turned back to dark ages.

    When well educated people left the region people turned into headless chickens. They couldn't get trained or educated. As a result they started to damage churches and environment. This damage didn't happen only by the muslim society, non-muslim citizens harmed the Cappadocia as well.



    Because when education ends, that's the time ignorance begins.


    Atatürk

    TURKISH REPUBLIC

    Before and after the World War I, Ottoman Empire was making deals with European countries to gain benefit from ancient ruins under their boundaries. Those days were economicaly disastrous for the Ottoman Empire. That's why they signed contracts between European Countries and archeologists and agreed on share the findings fifty fifty. As a result Anatolia lost almost %60 what we supposed to have.



    After the Turkish Republic established in 1923, this issue turned 180 degrees. Turkish Republic started to give the real value to those relics. Thanks to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk the founder of modern Turkey, for all these years of civilizations who ruled Cappadocia, the greatest attach importance given by Turkish Republic.

    Finally in 1985, UNESCO accepted Divrigi Mosque and Hospital, Istanbul Peninsula and Historical Sites and Goreme National Park and Cappadocia into the world heritage list.



    ONE LAST NOTE
     I know, I said it's going to be short but guess what? It didn't work again... Hope I didn't bore you... See you soon...



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