KONYA, BC. It is an exceptional city that has been the scene of important civilizations in terms of human history since the 7000s, carries the traces of a very rich culture, conquers the hearts with the Islamic elders like Mevlana, and has the identity of a museum city as the trade and accommodation center of the historical silk road. Konya, which contains the oldest and most valuable works of Turkish history, is also a heartfelt prayer.
Konya has a name that has not changed much from ancient times until today. According to rumors; A monument was built as a token of gratitude to the person who killed a monster that harmed the city in ancient times, and then a picture was drawn that depicts this event. This monument is named as Ikonion. Over time, the name Ikonion has evolved into Icconium.
During the Roman period, it changed with the names of the Emperors and became names such as Claudiconium, Colonia Selie, Augusta Iconium. The names Ycconium, Conium, Stancona, Conia, Cogne, Cogna, Konien, Konia were given to Konya, which is mentioned as Tokonion in Byzantine sources. This name, which Arabs call Kuniya, has not changed in the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, and has survived until today.
The first settlement of Konya goes back to the Neolithic Age (8000-5500 BC). This was followed by the Chalcolithic Age (5500-3500 BC), the Early Bronze Age (3500-2000 BC) settlements.
In addition, researches carried out in Karahöyük and Ereğli have shown that there were settlements in the region during the Hittite period. Neolithic settlements in Canhasan, Çataklhöyük and Erbaa; The Chalcolithic Age settlements include Canhasan, Çatalhöyük; It was revealed during the excavations that the settlements belonging to the EBA were in Alaaddin Hill and Karahöyük. In this respect, Konya is a city with the oldest settlement centers of Anatolia.
10 km of Çumra District of Konya. 13 building levels were unearthed during the excavations in Çatalhöyük, located in the east. The earliest settlement floor here is BC. It is dated to 5500 BC. Here, the first house architecture and original finds belonging to the first sacred buildings were encountered.
The best known period of settlement and urbanism in Çatalhöyük emerged on the 7th and 11th floors. These houses are single-storey and the entrances are stairs through a hole in the roof. The walls of the houses are plastered and pictures are made on them. These are the first examples of the ancient people painted on the walls. In addition, the statuettes unearthed in the Çatalhöyük excavation provide original information about the mother goddess culture, the beginning of worship and the beliefs of the time.
The Hittites dominated the region in the XIII century BC, and the rock reliefs in Eflatunpınar and Ereğli have survived from this period to the present day. After the Hittites, the region came under the rule of Phrygians and Cimmerians.
BC VII. Under the rule of the Lydians in the century BC and the Persians in the VI century BC, the region remained within the borders of the Cappadocia Satrap. It was attached to the Macedonian Kingdom in 334 BC with Alexander the Great's abolition of the Persian State in Anatolia.
Konya region remained under the rule of Pontus in the 1st century BC and then changed hands from time to time between Pontus and Romans. At the beginning of the 7th century AD, the Sassanids, in the middle of the century, the Arabs dominated the region for a short time.
After the Battle of Malazgirt (1071), Oghuz tribes dominated Anatolia, Kutalmışoğlu Süleyman Shah, one of the commanders of Alparslan, turned to the west after conquering Konya and its region, and the Anatolian Seljuk State was established in 1074. Although the Anatolian Seljuks chose Iznik as the capital of the state, when they lost Iznik during the First Crusade, they made Konya their center. After that, Konya was adorned with the architectural works of the Anatolian Seljuks and became one of the most developed cities of Anatolia in a short time.
During the Anatolian Seljuk period, Konya lived its golden age in culture and art. It brought together the famous scholars, philosophers, poets, sufis, music lovers and masters of other fine arts of the period. Scholars such as Bahaeddin Veled, Mevlana Celaleddin, Kadı Burhaneddin, Kadı Sıraceddin, Sadreddin Konevi, Şahabeddin Sühreverdi and Sufis such as Muhyiddin Arabi settled in Konya and turned the city into a cultural center with their works.
In 1071, after the Battle of Malazgirt, the gates of Anatolia were opened to the Turks and Konya was conquered by the Great Seljuk Sultan Kutalmışoğlu Sultan Süleyman Shah.
When the Anatolian Seljuk State, which was founded in 1074 and whose capital was Iznik, lost Iznik at the end of the 1st Crusade, the capital was moved to Konya. Developing day by day after becoming the capital city and decorated with many architectural works, the city has become one of the most developed cities in Anatolia in a short time.
Konya, which was under the sovereignty of the Anatolian Seljuk State for 211 years from 1097 to 1308, came under the domination of the Karamanoğulları Principality after the collapse of the Seljuk State.
In 1465, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror abolished the Karamanoğulları Principality and Konya was included within the borders of the Ottoman Empire.
Fatih Sultan Mehmet established the state of Karaman as the 4th State in 1470 and made its center the city of Konya. In the 17th century, the borders of the state of Karaman expanded, and its name changed during the Tanzimat period and took the name Konya State. The population of the city of Konya is 1,825 at that time, it was the largest city in Turkey's 11th and 69th in the world.
During the years of the War of Independence, Konya also served its part, and the Western Front Headquarters was established in Akşehir. Although Konya was occupied by the Italians after the Mondros Armistice Treaty, it was completely liberated from the occupation on 20 March 1920.
Konya, which grew and developed rapidly in the Republic Period, is today a city that looks like an open-air museum with its cultural historical artifacts.
Konya, which is among the few cities of Turkishness in terms of historical artifacts, is decorated with monuments that are considered to be popular works of Turkish architecture, as it served as the capital of the Seljuks for more than two centuries. In this respect, Konya, before Bursa, Edirne and Istanbul in the Seljuk Period, rose to the level of "The most magnificent Turkish city". It can be said that most of the works made in Konya before the Turkish-Islamic period have not survived. Still, Konya is one of the exceptional cities adorned with various historical monuments.
The Mevlana Museum, which is considered the symbol of Konya, comes first among these works. Built by the architect Bedrettin Tabrizi and called the Dome-i Hadra (The Greenest Dome), this magnificent 16-sliced monument is covered with turquoise tiles and gained its present appearance during the Republican era. Alaeddin Mosque, Sahip Ata Complex, Karatay Madrasa, İnce Minaret Madrasa, Sırçalı Madrasa are among the works of the Seljuk period. In Konya, which has many mosques, baths, fountains, bridges, dervish lodges, caravanserais, hospitals, waterways and other infrastructural facilities belonging to the Seljuk and Principalities period, the most famous of the Ottoman period works are Sultan Selim and Aziziye Mosques.
In the first half of the 12th century, during the period of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat (1219, 1236) and afterwards, it became the center of science and art of the world. Scientists and artists from all over the Turkish-Islamic World gathered in Konya. Scholar mystics and philosophers such as Bahaeddin Veled, Muhyiddin Arabi, and Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, Sadreddin Konevi, Şemsi Tabrizi, Kadı Burhaneddin, Kadı Siraceddin, Urmemi prepared their valuable works in Konya and shed light on the world. This feature, which can be called "the Golden Age of Konya", continued until the middle of the 12th century. The deep tolerance of these personalities and the new owners of Anatolia, their superiority in science, art and technical fields, and their deep-rooted cultural and social structures have been a major factor in making Anatolia our "Home Country". Thus, neither the Byzantine attacks, nor the Mongol invasion, nor the Crusader armies, nor the Italian nor Greek invasions could destroy the Turkish domination in Anatolia.
Konya in the Period of Anatolian Seljuks
Konya experiences its golden age in Culture and Art during the period of the Capital of the Anatolian Seljuk State (1096-1277), which was established by the Seljuk Turks (1076-1080) after the 1071 Malazgirt war. It has gathered the famous scholars, philosophers, poets, mystics, teachers, musicians and other artists of the period. Bahaeddin Veled, Mevlana Celaleddin, Kadı Burhaneddin, Kadı Sıraceddin, Sadreddin Konevi, Şahabeddin Sühreverdi and Sufis such as Muhyiddin Arabi settled in Konya and turned the city into a cultural center with the works they gave. This effect still continues with his works such as Mesnevi, Divan-ı Kebir, which enlightened humanity with the idea and philosophy of Mevlana.
Again, Nasreddin Hodja is a wise person who has been continuing the development of Konya's cultural and social life for centuries with his jokes that make you laugh and think. Libraries were opened in Konya during the Seljuk period, during this period, great historical and cultural breakthroughs were made in the fields of History, Literature, Philosophy, Art, Medicine, Cosmography, Law and Religion, accordingly Madrasas, Mosques, Libraries, tombs, fountains, castles, inns, baths, bazaars and covered bazaars, bridges and palaces were built.
Konya in the Period of Karamanids
During the period of Karamanoğulları (1277) in Konya, developments in the field of science and culture continued, and scholars and Sufis such as Ulu Arif Çelebi and his sons Adil and Alim Çelebiler and Ahmet Eflâkî and Sarı Yakup were raised.
Historical and Cultural Works of the Karamanids Period;
Ali Gaviye Zaviye and Tomb, Kadı Mürsel Zaviye and Tomb, Abu İshak Kazeruni Zaviye, Hasbey Dar-ül Huffazı, Meram Hasbey Mescidi, Sheikh Osman Rumi Tomb, Ali Efendi Muallimhanesi, Nasuh Bey Dar-ül Huffaz, Turgutoğulları Tomb, Kalendersunhane Mosque and Tomb, Burhaneddin Fakih Tomb, Siyavuş Veli Tomb,
Konya in the Ottoman Period
Konya was within the Ottoman borders in 1467. It is the stopover place of Yavuz Sultan Selim, Süleyman the Magnificent and Murat II, one of the Ottoman Sultans who went on the eastern expeditions. Science, culture and art movements continue uninterruptedly. It is the center where famous poets, scholars, historians and philosophers gather. In this period, in terms of architecture; Mosques, fountains, madrasahs, etc., are created.
Historical and Cultural Works of the Ottoman Period
Selimiye Mosque, Yusufağa Library, Piri Mehmet Pasha Mosque, Şerafettin Mosque, Kapu Mosque, Hacı Fettah Mosque, Nakiboğlu and Aziziye Mosques, Şeyh Halili Tomb and Mevlana Complex are some of the architectural works of the period.
In the last period of the Ottoman Empire, innovations started in Konya with the Tanzimat movement, besides madrasas, Primary Schools (İptidai), Teachers School (Darülmualimin) and Secondary School (Rüştiye) were opened. The first high school was opened in 1889 by the Governor Ferit Pasha, in the same years as the Konya Art School. In 1900, the number of madrasas in Konya reached 530, including the districts.
Konya history in the Republic Period
With the proclamation of the Republic on 29 October 1923, new schools were opened in addition to the old ones, and new newspapers and magazines began to be published. Primary, secondary, high school and higher education in Konya, as in the rest of the country, are transferred to the state administration, schools that train teachers, technical and art schools, high schools have been renewed and multiplied according to the needs of the country.
With the establishment of the Ministry of Culture, libraries and museums were placed under the control of the Ministry of Culture within the framework of the "Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage" with the number 2863 and the amended number 3386 on the protection of our Cultural and Natural Heritage. Provincial Cultural Directorates representing the Ministry were organized in all provinces and the culture and art movements of the Republic period were systematized.
The main historical artifacts in Konya that can survive
Hittite City: It was excavated in Karahöyük, 7 km away from Konya. Architectural remains, seals, pottery and pots were found. Çatal Höyük: It is 50 km away from Konya and is one of the first known settlement centers of humanity in Anatolia.
Çatalhöyük (Çatalhüyük): It is 12 km away from Çumra. Houses, colorful paintings, ceramics and tombs were found.
İvriz Rock Monument: It is the first agricultural monument of history and is a relief stone from the Hittite period. It is in Ereğli district. The Hittites planted it as an expression of gratitude to the fertility of the soil.
Nane and Dede Mounds: 25 km northeast of Ilgın during the Hittite period III. Hattusil's son Tatalya founded a city named "Salburt". As far as it is learned from the works related to this city, the Hittites wrote the "Hieroglyph" writing 500 years before the Egyptians BC. They used it in 3500.
Hittite Fountain Monument: (Eflatunpınar), BC. It dates from 1300-1200. It is 15 km from Beyşehir. It is made of 14 stones and is in the form of a wall. There are historical ruins in Belviranköy, and important Hittite works in Bolat and Eserler villages in Hadim.
Ak Monastery: It is a monastery carved into the rock on the Konya-Silifke road. It was built in the name of Saint Horion in 274.
Haghia Church: It was built in Sille in 327 and is one of the oldest churches in Anatolia. Byzantine Ruins: They are historical ruins in Cihanbeyli Akçaşar village.
Çatalhöyük, Beyşehir Erbaba Tumulus, Beyşehir Eflâtunpınar Monument, Fasıllar Monument, Ereğli İvriz Rock Relief, Beyşehir Castle, Akmanastir (274), Hagia Eleni Church (327), Sahip Ata Complex (1283), Alaaddin Mosque, Selimiye Mosque (1565), Aziziye Mosque (1676), İnce Minareli Madrasa, Sırçalı Madrasa, Taş Mescit (1215), Sırçalı Mescid (XIII.century), Tahir and Zühre Mosque, Beyhekim Mosque (XIII. Century) Mevlana Tomb and Dergâhı, Beşare Bey (Ferhuniye) Mosque ( 1219), Erdem Shah Masjid (1230), Hoca Hasan Masjid (XIII. Century) Gömeç Hatun Tomb, Hasbey Darül Hüffazı (1421), Karatay Madrasa, Sadreddin Konevi Mosque and Tomb (XIII.century), İplikçi Mosque and Madrasa (XII. century), Dursunoğlu Mosque (XV century), Kapı Mosque (İhyaiyye Mosque) (XV century), Karatay Masjid (XIII. ), Tacül Vezir Madrasa and Tomb (XIII.century), Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque (1162), Ereğli Ulu Mosque (XIII.century), Karapınar Selim II Complex (XVI.century), Beyşehir Demirli Mescid (XII.century), Ahmet Efendi Bath (XV.century), Court Bath (XV.century), Kapı Fountain (XIII.century), Nakipoğlu Fountain (XV. ), Yusufağa Library (XIII. Piri Mehmet Paşa Mosque, Şerafettin Mosque, Hacı Fettah Mosque, Nakiboğlu and Aziziye Mosques, Şeyh Halili Tomb, Kızılviran Han (1205), Horozlu Han (1246-1249), Kadınhan, Akşehir Ulu Mosque (1213), Güdük Minaret Mosque (1226) It is Seyyid Mahmud Hayrani Zaviye (1224). Also, one of the first statues of Atatürk (1926) is in Konya. There are houses from examples of Turkish civil architecture.
Mevlânâ Week, which continues from the first Sunday of December to 17 Aralı in Konya, which is an important tourism center; Akşehir Nasreddin Hodja festivities that started on July 5th and lasted for a week; Lovers' Festival held between 25-30 October; Our city confirms its status as a city of culture with the Javelin Competitions held on September 9, and the Konya Fair, which started on August 5th and lasted for a month since 1971.
Spiritual architects of Konya and our national culture, Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi; while shedding light on the world with human love, worldview and life philosophy; Our Nasreddin Hodja expressed the ready responsiveness and quick wit of the Turkish Nation with his jokes.
Districts of Konya
SelcukluMeram
KaratayEregli
CumraSeydisehir
BeysehirBozkir
AksehirIlgin
YalıhüyükKulu
Cihanbeyli
Sarayönü Kadinhanı
Tashkent
HadimAltinekin
AkorenDoğanhisar
HalkapınarDerbent
PaddyTuzlukcu
EmirgaziDerebucak
HüyükAhırlı
CumraYunak
