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The Central Anatolia Region
 The central Anatolian plateau,
ochre-hued, cleft by ravines and dominated by volcanic peaks,
forms the heart[and of Turkey. Covered with wheat fields and
outlined with ranks of poplars the boldly contoured steppe has
a solitary majesty.
This plateau was one of the cradles of human civilisation.
At Зatalhцyьk remains of settlements from as early as the
eighth millennium B.C. have been unearthed. The homeland of
many people and the historic battleground of East and West,
here the Hattis, Hittites, Phrygians, Galatians, Romans,
Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans all fought for their
sovereignty and established their rule. In the 11th century
the migrating Turks from the east made the plateau their own.
During its turbulent history Central Anatolia has endured
invasion by great conquerors such as Alexander the Great and
Tamerlane. In the course of ten millennia of habitation the
denizens of the area have reflected in their art - from the
vigorous paintings of Зatalhцyьk to the confident lines of
Seljuk architecture, to, more recently, the impressive modern
form of Atatьrk's mausoleum - the dramatic contours of the
surrounding landscape.
Central Anatolia
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