THE CAMBRIDGE ANCIENT HISTORY - Revised Edition of Volumes I & II - Volume I - Chapter VII - XI. Geographical Introduction

Sep 28, 2026

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Geographical Introduction section for Volume I examines Anatolia as a region in Asia, defining its mountains, forests, and communications. It describes cultural frontiers shaped by the Taurus and Pontic chains, the role of passes and coastal plains, and how rivers created routes from east to west. The chapter connects settlement patterns to natural barriers and human impacts such as deforestation and over-grazing, highlighting key areas including Cilicia, the Aegean coast, and western river valleys.

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XI. Geographical Introduction

Definition of Anatolia and cultural frontiers

Physical features: size, forests, climate, and human changes

Communications: mountains, passes, and coastal plains

Settlement evidence across regions and river valleys

Road networks from the plateau to the coasts

THE CAMBRIDGEANCIENT HISTORY # REVISED EDITION OFVOLUMES I &II CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS 14V-2 ase 1967 C!4 1-2 fasc ANATOLIA BEFORE c.4000 B.C.AND C.2300—1750 B.C. BY J.MELLAART Lecturer in Anatolian ArchaeologyInstitute of ArchaeologyUniver sity of London VOLUME I CHAPTER VII,§§XI-XIVCHAPTER XXIV,SI-VI CAMBRIDGE ancient history AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS 97 PU BLISHED BYTHE SYNDICS OF THE CAMBRIDGE U NIVERSITY PRESS Bentley House,200 Euston Road,London,N.W.IAmerican Branch:32 East 57th Street,New York,N.Y.10022 C CAMBRI DGE UNIVERSITY PRESS 1964 First printed 1964Reprinted with revisions 1967 Printed in Great Britain at the University Printing House,Cambridge(Brooke Crutchley,University Printer) CHAPTER VII,SSXI-XIV ANATOLIA BEFORE c.4000 B.C. ## XI.GEOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION THE term Anatolia is used throughout this chapter to describeTurkey in Asia,including Cilicia,but excluding the regions eastof the Amanus and south of the eastern Taurus,the cultures ofwhich are evidently more related to those of Syria and northernMesopotamia.l This crescent of mountains stretching without abreak from the Mediterranean to the western borders of Persianeatly defines the southern edge of Anatolia,even though it neverpresented an impassable barrier.It often formed a culturalfrontier,and there was sufficient traffic through the passes tomake it act as a political frontier as well.Cilicia,or rather theplain of Cilicia,is often singled out as a more or less independentunit on account of a similar geographical position south of theTaurus,but recent research shows conclusively that,although itmaintained contacts with both the Anatolian plateau and northSyria,it should both archaeologically and philologically be con-sidered a part of Anatolia. Tounderstand the development of Anatolian cultures and civil-ization,a geographical knowledge of the country is a prerequisite.Three main factors must be emphasized:its size,its mountainouscharacter,and its forests.Superimposed on a map of EuropeAnatolia extends from Calais to the Russian frontier,fromDenmark to Rome or from Amsterdam to Gibraltar.Anatolia isa highland country,most of it over 200o ft.high and graduallyrising to an altitude of 5ooo-6ooo ft.in the east.PrehistoricAnatolia was mostly covered in forest and woodland and a greatpart of it still is so.Many of the now semi-arid and barren regionswith a steppe climate are the result of man-made changes,over-grazing and deforestation,perhaps accelerated by a steady rise inwinter temperatures since late Roman times.2 Completely enclosed by two parallel ranges of rugged moun-tains,the Taurus and the Pontic chains,all natural communica-tions run from east to west.Both chains present precipitous cliffs 1 Evidence of recent and unpublished surveys by Professor B.Alkim(Karasuvalley),the author(Maras region)and Mr C.A.Burney(Adiyaman-Besni region).2§xI,3· ANATOLIA BEFORE c.4000 B.C. along much of their course,and coastal plains are therefore fewand far between,and of limited extent,with the single exceptionof the Cilician plain.Prehistoric occupation is found on the northcoast only in the Samsun area and along the Rion valley in Colchis,where rivers running down from the high plateau have carvednatural routes.Along the Mediterranean one finds the samesituation.Neolithic remains are found in the Cilician plain andin the Calycadnus valley.Further west Neolithic and EarlyBronze Age material occurs in cave sites north of Antalya,butPamphylia,a forested piedmont area of the Taurus and not analluvial plain,seems to have been shunned by prehistoric farmers.Nor is prehistoric occupation found along the Lycian or Cariancoasts until the peninsula of Halicarnassus is reached. The west coast,on the otherhand,offers small and narrow plainsfavourable for early settlement and these communicate with theplateau behind through the river valleys of the Maeander,Hermus and Caicus.The Cayster,hemmed in betwee

FAQs

How does the text define Anatolia for this chapter?

Anatolia describes Turkey in Asia, including Cilicia but excluding regions east of the Amanus and south of the eastern Taurus. It explains why Cilicia should be treated archaeologically and philologically as part of Anatolia.

What key physical factors are emphasized for understanding Anatolian development?

The chapter emphasizes Anatolia’s size, mountainous character, and forests. It also links later semi-arid and barren areas to human changes like over-grazing and deforestation.

Why are communications across Anatolia often limited?

Natural communications are described as running east to west between the Taurus and Pontic chains, with precipitous cliffs and few coastal plains. River valleys and passes are presented as the main routes, with limited north-south ease in some areas.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag