Ankara

Ankara, the capital of Turkey, is a vibrant metropolis located in the center of Anatolia, with a population of 5.1 million in its urban area and 5.8 million in the wider Ankara Province. Although it holds the title of the biggest by urban area—an amazing 4,130 square kilometers—this makes it the second-largest city in Turkey after Istanbul. Strategically located in central Anatolia, Ankara represents the political and administrative center of the Turkish Republic and a rich tapestry of historical importance combined with modern dynamism.

The city’s roots run far back in antiquity, with a millennium of historical record. The strategic location of Ankara has made it a sought-after center of power and influence over many centuries. Testament to its early significance in the area, it was the capital of the Celtic state of Galatia from 280 to 64 BC in ancient times. From 25 BC well into the 7th century AD, this position was strengthened even more when the Roman province bearing the same name became its capital. Ankara has a varied archeological legacy from Hattian, Hittite, Lydian, Phrygian, Galatian, Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations thanks to this protracted period of prominence under many different civilizations.

Rising 150 meters above the left bank of the Ankara River, a tributary of the bigger Sakarya River, a rocky hill forms the historical center of Ankara. For millennia, people have settled and defended this raised position, which is crowned with the remains of Ankara Castle. Although many of the castle’s outworks have faded with time, the city still boasts well-preserved specimens of Roman and Ottoman architecture strewn over its metropolitan scene. Dating back to 20 BC, the Temple of Augustus and Rome is maybe the most amazing of these old buildings. This temple is especially important historically since it contains the Monumentum Ancyranum, an inscription documenting the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, so offering priceless insights on the legacy and accomplishments of Emperor Augustus.

Ankara’s ongoing significance was evident during the Ottoman era since it was chosen the capital of the Anatolia Eyalet from 1393 until the late 15th century. Later, it became the seat of the Angora Vilayet from 1867 to 1922 and the Angora Eyalet from 1827 to 1864. Under Ottoman control, these administrative duties helped to confirm Ankara’s status as a major city in the area and prepared the ground for its future national glory.

The start of the 20th century brought major changes to Ankara’s importance and position. Among the turbulent years following World War I, on April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was founded in Ankara. During the Turkish War of Independence, this historic occasion turned the city into the headquarters for the Turkish National Movement. Given its central location and defensibility, Ankara was chosen as the focal point for this nationalist fight strategically. Officially declared the capital of the recently established Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923, Ankara was following the successful end of the war and the abolition of the Ottoman Sultanate. Represented by Istanbul, this choice signified a symbolic departure from the Ottoman past and signaled a fresh phase of Turkish nationalism and modernism.

Ankara, the capital, grew fast into Turkey’s political center. Driving the city’s development and modernizing it, the government started to be a major job provider. Still, Ankara’s value goes beyond its administrative purposes. Strategically at the junction of Turkey’s road and railway systems, it has developed into a major commercial and industrial hub. This central posture has helped Ankara grow as a center for manufacturing, trade, and services, so supporting its economic life and urban growth.

The name of the city has come to represent several unique products. Angoras wool, shorn from Angoras rabbits, is well-known for its softness and warmth and has been valued for centuries. Both the Angoras cat, known for its silky coat, and the long-haired Angoras goat—the source of mohair—also come from this area. Beyond these animal products, the area surrounding Ankara is praised for its agricultural wealth, especially its pears, honey, and Muscat grapes, so adding to the culinary and economic variety of the area.

Though Ankara is in one of Turkey’s driest areas and mostly surrounded by steppe vegetation, it has created an unexpectedly green urban environment. With an astounding 72 square meters of green space per resident, the city ranks among the more lush urban environments worldwide. This dedication to preserving green areas inside the urban fabric shows a harmony between growth and environmental awareness, so giving people lots of chances for leisure and escape from the city traffic.