Asia Minor is a peninsula washed immediately by four seas - the Marmara, Mediterranean, Black, Aegean, as well as two famous straits - the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, which separate Europe and Asia. It is far enough, in comparison with other parts of Asia, advanced towards the west, and Rhodes, Cyprus and other islands are located off its coast.
Asia Minor reaches a thousand kilometers in length, and up to six hundred in width. Its territory is more than 500 thousand square meters of mainly mountainous terrain, the main part of which is occupied by the Armenian and Asia Minor highlands, bordered from the north by the Pontic Mountains, and in the south by the Taurus.
The peninsula of Asia Minor is covered by Mediterranean vegetation along its shores. Forests on it occupy only small areas, which, in addition to natural conditions, is a consequence of their prolonged extermination.
In the western regions of the Asia Minor Peninsula, there are many mountain ranges that perpendicularly lead to the Aegean Sea, which is why this part of the coastline is fantastically dissected and forms deep and comfortable bays. Here (on the west side) is located the most important Turkish port - Izmir.
If you look at the map, this peninsula on it will look like a rectangle.
In antiquity - until the 4th century BC - it was called Anatolia.
In general, at different periods of its history, Asia Minor was partially or fully part of such states as the Hittites, Lydia, Great and Lesser Armenia, Cilicia, ancient Rome, the Power of Macedon, Byzantium and others.
However, the Hittites were the most influential peoples in Asia Minor, and the Armenians in the east, who lived here until the 1905 genocide.
An important role in the economic and, therefore, in the cultural development of Anatolia was played by the natural riches of this peninsula, the need for which gradually developed with the development of civilization. In the bowels of ancient Anatolia hid huge deposits of metals, including copper. All these riches brought merchants from different countries to the peninsula, including the Middle East.
In exchange for copper raw materials and other materials, foreign merchants brought to Anatolia magnificent Mesopotamian woolen and linen fabrics, as well as a huge amount of tin, which is so necessary for making bronze.
In Anatolia there were many famous ancient cities, but perhaps the most famous of them was the capital of a powerful state - Lydia - an ancient city in Asia Minor on the banks of the gold-bearing river Pactol, known as the place where the first silver and gold coins began to be minted in the history of mankind. . Sardis also became famous in history and as a place where the ambitious and richest king Croesus reigned.
No less famous is another ancient city in the territory of Asia Minor - Ankara. It was first mentioned in chronicles in the 7th century BC. It is located at the junction of two major trade routes connecting Asia with Europe.
The citizens of our country are also well known in Asia Minor, and all thanks to the fact that it is on its territory that such popular resorts as Alanya, Antalya, Kemer, Belek, Side and so on are located, and in the south - picturesque Cyprus.