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The
city of Ankara lies in the center of Anatolia on the eastern edge of the
great, high Anatolian Plateau, at an altitude of 850 meters. It is the
center of the province with the same name, which is a predominantly fertile
wheat steppeland, with forested areas in its northheast region. It is bordered
by the provinces of Cankiri and Bolu to the north, Eskisehir to the west,
Konya and Aksaray
to
the south, and Kirikkale and Kirsehir
to
the east.
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The
region's history dates back to the Bronze-Age Hatti Civilization, which
was usurped in the 2nd millenium B.C.by the Hittites, then the Phrygians
(10th century B.C.); Lydians and Persians followed. After these came the
Galatians, a Celtic race who were the first to make Ankara their capital
(3rd century B.C.). It was then known as Ancyra, meaning 'anchor' (which
is one of the oldest wods in the language of the sea-loving Celts.)
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The
city subsequently fell to the Romans, Byzantines, and Seljuks under Alpaslan
1073, and then to the Ottomans under Yildirim Beyazit in 1402, who remained
in control until the First Wold War
.
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The
city, an important culturel, trading, and arts center in Roman times and
an important trading center on the caravan route to the east in Ottoman
times, had declined in importance by the 19th century. It again became
an important center when Kemal Ataturk chose it as the base from which
to direct the War of Liberation. As a result of its role in the war and
its strategic position, it was declared the capital of the new Turkish
Republic on October 13, 1923
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