Turkey / Cappadocia

Dec 15 & 17

Dates: Dec 15th (Tuesday) and/or Dec 17th (Thursday)

Time: 9:30am - 10:30AM

Zoom Address: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/8466054103

The password (if asked) is: 268304

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Description: Turkey is the bridge between Europe and Asia. It's one of the oldest civilizations in the world, serving as a hub between cultures, languages, religions, and ideas. Experience this trip to Turkey--both ancient and modern views!

Enjoy the lesson and your Zoom sessions.

Rediscovering San Diego in Turkey: Ankara and Cappadocia

This week Rediscovering San Diego is taking a magic carpet ride—to Turkey! Elizabeth will lead this armchair tour of an extraordinary country, focusing on Ankara and Cappadocia in particular. You might just want to add Turkey to your post-pandemic bucket list of places to visit.

Fast Facts About Turkey

Turkey ranks as one of the areas with the most bordering countries (8): Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Greece. There are more than ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey.

Turkey is the site of the world’s earliest settlements. The country was built 8,800 years ago, beginning with the Hittites, who created an empire where they ruled for years. Turkey was the site of the place we know as Troy. After the Trojan War, King Midas became ruler in 700 B.C. Constantine was elected the Roman Emperor and created Constantinople. Istanbul was formally established in 1923. This date also marks the official fall of the Ottoman Empire, opening the way for the Republic of Turkey (60 Interesting Facts, 2019).

Turkey is now a secular country, meaning that there is a separation between government and religion. In terms of religion, Turkey is mainly a Muslim country (65% Sunni Muslim; 13% other Islam), though about 21% of people follow other religions (60 Interesting Facts, 2019). According to World Atlas, the Prime Minister of Turkey leads a “secular parliamentary representative democratic republic” (that’s a political mouthful) (Chepkemoi, 2017).

Did You Know...?*

The first signs of writing were found in Anatolia, Turkey. It was in 1950 B.C. when clay tablets were found in the Assyrian ruins.
The oldest recognized human settlement is in Catalhoyuk, which is in Central Turkey. The first Neolithic paintings found on man-made walls were discovered there.
In the Bible, Noah’s Ark is said to have landed on Mount Ararat, located in Eastern Turkey.
The country has two places that are part of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (Temple of Artemis and Mausoleum of Halicarnassus).
Saint Nicholas, who is popularly known as Santa Claus, was born in Turkey.
The famous Gordian Knot, which was untangled by Alexander the Great, is located in Ankara.
Turkey was one of the first countries that allowed women to vote.
The species of birds called Turkeys got their name from Turkey (the country).

*(60 Interesting Facts, 2019).

Ankara by Night Image: Wikimedia Commons

Ankara

Our trip to Turkey begins in one of the oldest capital cities in the world: Ankara. Today more than 4.5 million people live in this busy metropolis. Ankara is a main center of government, commerce, and education in Turkey.

But looking back, Ankara has always been a hub of human life and activity.

It’s not difficult to see why. Roads running all directions through Anatolia met in Ankara, making it a highway stop for sustenance, trade, and of course the exchange of ideas and merging of cultures.

Ankara Castle and Citadel Wikimedia.org

Its history extends as far back as the Stone Age. A progression of empires conquered and ruled this area. In the third century BCE, Alexander the Great (of the Greek kingdom of Macedonia) ruled Ankara. By 25 BCE, the emperor Augustus claimed Ankara for the Roman empire (Ankara, 2020).

From the 4^th century all the way through the 11^th century, Ankara served as a refuge for the Byzantine emperors. For centuries, leaders retreated to the area to relax and enjoy the dry, temperate climate. The Byzantine influence is reflected in the architecture and art seen throughout the city even today (History of Ankara).

Through the centuries, Ankara defended itself against invasions by Persian and Arab armies. It was incorporated into the Ottoman dynasty in the 14^th century, and officially remained a part until Turkish independence in 1923 (History of Ankara).

Modern Ankara reflects this kaleidoscope of history. Visitors can view a range of historical sites, from the baths and ruins of the Roman era, to the citadel and cemetery from Byzantine times. Numerous structures remain from Ottoman times as well, featuring mosques, temples, markets, and mausoleums (Ankara, 2020).

Watch this video of modern Ankara

Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque

Atatürk's Mausoleum

Cappadocia

Image: Wikimedia.org

Continuing on our tour, Cappadocia is located about 140 miles to the south of Ankara in central Turkey. It is a remarkable place on Earth for a couple of reasons.

First is how the earth itself formed the landscape of the region. Erosion chiseled the soft volcanic rock into magnificent cones, pillars, precarious stone “tents,” and spiraling towers. Natural valleys and caves extend throughout the area. The breathtaking vistas and rock formations led to the creation of Göreme National Park, which was designated a World Heritage Site in 1985 (Cappadocia, 2019).

The second reason for Cappadocia’s uniqueness is the way humans have inhabited the region throughout time. With the dry, rough terrain, it wasn’t easy for people to survive here. But that didn’t stop civilization from reaching this remote land.

In fact, archeologists have found tools and pottery dating back to the Neolithic era. Clay tablets from the city of Kanesh date back to the 3^rd millennium BCE (Cappadocia, 2019). According to a National Geographic source, towns were built in the soft stone descending as many as eight stories underground (Escape to Turkey, 2019)! The name Cappodocia can be traced to the 6^th century BCE.

Cappadocia was a place of occupation and invasion. Byzantine, Persian, Greek, as well as Islamic artifacts have been found in rock-cut churches and underground tunnels. The natural caves became dwellings for humans first traced to around the 4^th century A.D.

You could say that Cappadocia was a needed hiding place. Because of its vulnerable position, the various settlers built fortresses for protection, and expanded the underground structures for safety. The structures included storehouses, stables, and living areas (Cappadocia, 2019).

One notable group of settlers was the early Christians escaping from Roman persecution in the 4^th century. Monks moved in and formed monastic communities; their frescoes have been preserved on church walls to this day (Escape to Turkey, 2019).

During the 10^th and 11^th centuries, Cappadocia experienced a period of prosperity. This is when many of the monasteries and rock-cut churches were built, decorated with frescoes that have been preserved so that we can still appreciate them.

As Turkish power strengthened and spread, Cappadocia became part of the Ottoman Empire by the 15^th century. The city of Nevsehir was established as a regional capital in the 1700s.

Dwellings in Sandstone Image: Pixabay

Modern Day Cappadocia is actually a region in the city of Nevsehir. It is primarily a tourist destination known for spectacular hot air balloon rides, and of course exploring the geological wonders, underground cities, caves, churches, and mosques.

Hear what Rick Steves says about Cappadocia...

A fascinating view of the Whirling Dervishes.

Final Thoughts

These special sites give you a sense of Turkey. As you can imagine, the country plays an important international role connecting Asia and Europe. Cities like Ankara are rich with history, yet also determine Turkey’s future. And the hauntingly beautiful landscape of places like Cappadocia remind us of our planet’s vast, mysterious splendor—and our tiny human presence in the scope of things.

Works Cited

60 Interesting Facts About Turkey. (2019). Retrieved from https://thefactfile.org/turkey-facts/

Ankara (July 2020). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Ankara

Cappadocia. (2019) Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/place/Cappadocia

Chepkemoi, J. (2017). What type of government does Turkey have? Retrieved from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-type-of-government-does-turkey-have.html

Escape to Turkey’s other worldly landscape (2020). Retrieved from

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/cappadocia/

History of Ankara. 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ankara

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