A Short History of Cappadocia: Mysteries of the Abandoned

 

The region known now as Kayseri, Kirsehir, Nevsehir, Nigde, and Aksaray in the Republic of Turkey was formerly known as Cappadocia. Thanks to its volcanic structures, fairy chimneys, rock-cut churches, and underground cities, Cappadocia is now used for marketing an area of 80 square kilometres inside the province of Nevsehir. It is one of Turkey's most well-liked tourist attractions today. It has historically been significant due to its location at the junction of the Black Sea & the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern ancient trade routes. So this is the time to apply for a turkey visa online now.

 

Early Human Traces

 

The neolithic communities in Cappadocia had minimal agricultural output because of the region's rugged terrain. They consequently limited their choice to a few places in and around Cappadocia with sufficient water and animals to sustain those hunters and gatherers. Examples of the cultures established in the area include Asiklihoyuk and the trade hub Kultepe. In the third millennium BCE, Cappadocia became a vital commerce hub and a gateway for Anatolia to the Middle East thanks to Assyrian trade colonies. After the invasions of the Persians, which happened in the sixth century BCE, Cappadocia was first mentioned in historical records. Inscriptions in three languages from the reigns of Darius I and Xerxes refer to Cappadocia as Kaptatuka. On the internet, the Persian word Katpatuka is frequently understood to mean "country of good horses." The term "katta" means "down below" in the Hattian and Luwian languages spoken by the ancient Hittites who ruled Cappadocia. That lends credence to the notion that Cappadocia is an idiomatic phrase for "lower lands."

 

The Ancient and Medieval History of Cappadocia

 

For practically all agricultural communities in Mesopotamia and Persia, the region was a mouthwatering rich mine zone because of the massive trade that went from Cappadocia to the Middle East. Cappadocia's complex cave networks developed due to the frequent raids by traders and colonists like the Assyrians and Persians. After the 6th century BCE, the area was ruled by the Persians until Alexander the Great and his successors took it in the 3rd century BCE. After Christianity was adopted as the Roman Empire's official religion in 3 AD, Cappadocia began to develop as a Roman province. Between the 7th and 10th centuries AD, when the Arabs invaded Cappadocia, the number and size of the underground cities increased. Cappadocia was finally at peace under Turkish rule, as shown by the beautiful cathedrals hewn out of the volcanic rocks. The majority of the paintings in Cappadocia were painted between the 11th and 12th centuries.

 

Modern Period

Turkish rule over Cappadocia dates back to the 11th century. By the 12th century, the monastery culture as we know it had reached its pinnacle. Christians stopped carving new churches and instead built churches within the towns and cities as the need for intricacy superseded security. Christian and Jewish populations lived side by side with Seljukians, Karamanli Turks, and Ottomans until the new Turkish and Hellenic Republics acknowledged the population exchange. Before the tourism sector began to boost the regional economy of handicrafts and service businesses, Cappadocia was a relatively underdeveloped area. Cappadocia has been a well-liked tourist attraction since the 1960s, drawing visitors from all over the world. Visitors may explore rock-cut churches, underground cities, and volcanic structures all year round. There are practically daily hot air balloon flights, walking excursions, led tours, and horse-riding trips. This only happens if you have a turkey e visa.