Classical Anatolia is Anatolia during classical antiquity. Early in that period, Anatolia was divided into several Iron Age kingdoms, most notably Lydia in the west, Phrygia in the center and Urartu in the east. Anatolia fell under Achaemenid Persian rule c. 550 BC. In the aftermath of the Greco-Persian Wars, all of Anatolia remained under Persian control except for the Aegean coast, which was incorporated in the Delian League in the 470s BC. Alexander the Great finally wrested control of the whole region from Persia in the 330s BC. After Alexander's death, his conquests were split amongst several of his trusted generals, but were under constant threat of invasion from both the Gauls and other powerful rulers in Pergamon, Pontus, and Egypt.
Oriental empires c. 600 BC
The Achaemenid Empire at its greatest extent. Anatolia remained, however, under Persian rule until the latter's overthrow by Alexander in the late 4th century BC.
The archaeological site of Sardis, today known as Sart in Turkey
Medusa head mosaic in Cibyra
The Kızılırmak, once known as the Halys River and Alis River, is the longest river flowing entirely within Turkey. It is a source of hydroelectric power and is not used for navigation.
Kızılırmak in Samsun
