ABSTRACT Cappadocia The Cappadocia Region has a historical background of thousands of years which varies from social, political and cultural point of view due to the geographical features originating from its geological and topographic structure. In terms of political boundaries, the borders of Cappadocia have changed many times in history, and the region that includes Nevşehir-Aksaray-Kayseri and Niğde is defined as “Core Cappadocia”. The region has an important position especially since it was located at the crossroads of the roads starting from the Early Bronze Age and east-west and north-south directions during the Assyrian Colonial and the Hittite Period. During the first millennium B.C, Nevşehir, located within the borders of the Tabal Country during the Late Hittite Period, carried a border zone between political structures in all periods with the advantage provided by the Kızılırmak (Halys) River. FORMATION AND HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF CAPPADOCIA REGION The Cappadocia Region of Anatolia has a history of thousands of years in social, political and cultural terms throughout history due to its geological and topographic features. Cappadocia has always maintained its geopolitical importance due to its geographical location. Particularly during the Assyrian Trade Colonies, Hittite, Seljuk, Roman and Byzantine Empires, the fact that the trade routes coming from east-west and north-south were located at the junction point increased the geopolitical importance of the region. In Cappadocia, where is one of the most characteristic landscapes of the world, surface forms developed due to volcanism, tectonism and erosion. The highest point of the region is the peak of Erciyes with 3917 meters and Hasandağ complex with 3268 meters. The Büyük and Küçük Hasan Mountains, the Melendiz Mountain and the Keçidoyran Mountain between them have a magnificent structure in Central Anatolia with their heights reaching up to 3300 meters and their smooth cone shapes. The geological structure of
ABSTRACT Cappadocia
The Cappadocia Region has a historical background of thousands of years which varies from social, political and cultural point of view due to the geographical features originating from its geological and topographic structure. In terms of political boundaries, the borders of Cappadocia have changed many times in history, and the region that includes Nevşehir-Aksaray-Kayseri and Niğde is defined as “Core Cappadocia”. The region has an important position especially since it was located at the crossroads of the roads starting from the Early Bronze Age and east-west and north-south directions during the Assyrian Colonial and the Hittite Period. During the first millennium B.C, Nevşehir, located within the borders of the Tabal Country during the Late Hittite Period, carried a border zone between political structures in all periods with the advantage provided by the Kızılırmak (Halys) River.
FORMATION AND HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF CAPPADOCIA REGION
The Cappadocia Region of Anatolia has a history of thousands of years in social, political and cultural terms throughout history due to its geological and topographic features. Cappadocia has always maintained its geopolitical importance due to its geographical location. Particularly during the Assyrian Trade Colonies, Hittite, Seljuk, Roman and Byzantine Empires, the fact that the trade routes coming from east-west and north-south were located at the junction point increased the geopolitical importance of the region. In Cappadocia, where is one of the most characteristic landscapes of the world, surface forms developed due to volcanism, tectonism and erosion. The highest point of the region is the peak of Erciyes with 3917 meters and Hasandağ complex with 3268 meters. The Büyük and Küçük Hasan Mountains, the Melendiz Mountain and the Keçidoyran Mountain between them have a magnificent structure in Central Anatolia with their heights reaching up to 3300 meters and their smooth cone shapes. The geological structure of the Cappadocia Region is formed by the gas, solid and flowing substances throw out from volcanoes. Cappadocia Region has become a preferred center in almost every period due to the fact that volcanic lands have fertile soils and large tuff plates formed by ignimbrite eruptions create splits by rivers to provide protection and shelter. Information derived from archaeological excavations and surveys in Cappadocia Region, there are cultural remains of Paleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Ages, Iron Age and later Hellenistic – Roman and Byzantine and Seljuk Periods which constitute the basis of tourism economy of the region today.
“Cappadocia Tablets” this is the first written document about Cappadocia and Anatolia as well. These tablets found in Kayseri Kültepe (Karum/Kanes) in two thousand years B.C. The first cultural traces in the Cappadocia region date back to the Lower Palaeolithic period with the widespread use of obsidian stone.
Meaning and Origin of the “Cappadocia”
There are many different ideas about where the origin of the name Cappadocia comes from. The ideas below are, the generally held in mind about the origin of the Cappadocian name.
Katpatuka : Which means Land of the Beautiful Horses in Persian Language.
Kapadoks – Cappadox : Former name of the Delice River, one of the important branches of Kızılırmak (Halis) River. Besides that son of the Assyrian King Ninias was named Cappadox.
Khepatukh : Chief God namein early Hittites period and in the same time Khepatukh means the country where is located below. Cappadocia is located south of the capital city of Hittites (Boğazköy/Hattusas).
Katpatuk : The word Katpatuk, which means nation in Armenian Language.
