History of Cappadocia
Human settlement dates back to the Paleolithic period. The land where the Hittites lived in a subsequent period has been one of the most important centers of Christianity. The houses and churches carved into the rock, the region has become a giant refuge for Christians fleeing the oppression of the Roman Empire.
Cappadocia region, particularly in Nevsehir, including Kirsehir, Nigde, Aksaray and Kayseri is a region spread to the provinces.
Cappadocia region is a place where nature and history are integrated. When creating the event Peribacaları’nı geographical, historical process, people within these chimneys in houses, church vote, by decorating them with frescos, carried the traces of thousands of years of civilization. Written history of Cappadocia goes back to the Paleolithic period of human settlement begins with the Hittites. Containing trade colonies and countries throughout history a bridge between the commercial and social Cappadocia, Silk Road is one of the important junctions.
Hittite Empire in the 12th century BC, the collapse of a dark period starts. During this period, Assyrian and Hittite kings who dominate the region late effects of Phrygia. This Kingdom is until the invasion of Persia in the 6th century BC.
Cappadocia name used today in the Persian language, “Land of Beautiful Horses” means. 332 BC Alexander the Great defeated the Persians, but face great resistance in Cappadocia. During this period, the Kingdom of Cappadocia is established. It begins to be felt in the area of power towards the end of the 3rd century BC the Romans. King of Cappadocia in the mid-1st century BC, are appointed by the Roman generals power and deposed. 17 AD the last Cappadocian king dies, becomes a province of Rome.
3rd century AD, Christians come to Cappadocia and the region is a center for training and thinking of them. Christians are applied between the years 303-308 thoroughly pressures increase. But Cappadocia is an ideal place to protect them from pressure and to spread Christian teachings. Deep valleys and create a safe haven for Roman soldiers that they vote against a field of soft volcanic rock.
The importance of the region, III. Leon’s icons reaches its climax with the ban. Against this background, icon of the pro starts to take refuge in some people. Iconoclasm movement for more than a hundred years (726-843). During this period, if it has influenced several Cappadocian churches Iconoclasm, which continued their side of the icon worship comfortably here. Monasteries of Cappadocia develops quite during this period.
Also in this period, the region’s up to Cappadocia Christian Armenia Anatolia Arabian raids started. This influx of people fleeing from the region causes a change of style churches in the region. Cappadocia in the 11th and 12th centuries through the Seljuks. It passes smoothly and in a subsequent period in Ottoman times. Christians in the region last year made the population exchange of 1924-26, they left Cappadocia, leaving behind beautiful architectural examples.
Cappadocia architectural fabric sometimes exhibits a structure integrated with geographical location.The Turkish stone formations in Cappadocia why “fairy chimneys” showing that he called a landscape.
