Asia Minor (also known as Anatolia) is modern-day Turkey.

Why was Asia Minor called Asia Minor?

The designation `Asia Minor' was coined by the Christian historian Orosius in 400 CE to differentiate Asia-at-large from the part of Asia evangelized by St. Paul.

What were some of the more famous cities of Asia Minor?

Famous cities of Asia Minor include Ephesus, Caria, Lydia, Pergamon, and Troy.

Who were some of the more famous people from Asia Minor?

Famous people from Asia Minor include most of the Pre-Socratic Philosophers (notably Thales of Miletus, Anaximander, Anaximenes), the historian Herodotus, St. Paul, and the physician Galen among many others.

Asia Minor Timeline

Definition

Ancient Asia Minor is a geographic region located in the south-western part of Asia comprising most of present-day Turkey. The earliest reference to the region comes from tablets of the Akkadian Dynasty (2334-2083 BCE) where it was known as The Land of the Hatti and was inhabited by the Hittites. It was among the most significant regions of antiquity.

More about: Asia Minor

Timeline

c. 6200 BCE
First copper smelting in Anatolia.
c. 1700 BCE
The Hittites invade the region of the Hatti and begin a systematic campaign against them. The great city of Hattusa is sacked and destroyed.
c. 1380 BCE
First instances of iron working in the Hittite Empire.
1350 BCE - 1250 BCE
The Hittite Empire is at its peak.
1334 BCE
Trojan War, according to Duris of Samos.
1285 BCE
Peak of Hittite power.
c. 1250 BCE
Trojan War, according to Herodotus.
1200 BCE
Lydia arises as a Neo-Hittite kingdom.
1200 BCE
Phrygians invade Anatolia and destroy the Hittite Empire.
1184 BCE
Trojan War, according to Eratosthenes.
c. 800 BCE - c. 700 BCE
Homer of Greece writes his Iliad and Odyssey.
c. 685 BCE - 546 BCE
Mermnad Dynasty rules Lydia.
c. 635 BCE - 585 BCE
Reign of Alyattes of Lydia. Minting of first coins made from electrum.
560 BCE - 546 BCE
Reign of Croesus of Lydia.
547 BCE
Anatolia conquered by the Persians. Ephesos remains neutral.
499 BCE - 493 BCE
Ionian cities rebel against Persian rule.
c. 498 BCE
Ionians and Greek allies invade and burn Sardis (capital of Lydia).
c. 449 BCE
Ionian cities become independent from Persia under the Peace of Callias.
c. 430 BCE - 415 BCE
The Histories of Herodotus is published. The work is divided into nine chapters, each dedicated to one of the Muses.
279 BCE
Celts invade Thrace and Anatolia.
262 BCE
Eumenes rebels and wins against the Seleucid Antiochus I. Beginning of the Pergamon Empire.
218 BCE
The Aegosages Celts enter Anatolia under Attalos of Pergamon.
188 BCE
Maximum extent of the Pergamon Empire after Apamea peace.
c. 188 BCE
The treaty of Apamea Kibotos. Peace and alliance is established between the Seleucid Empire and Rome joined by its allies, such as Pergamon and Rhodes. The Seleucids have to evacuate all the land and the cities from Asia Minor and to pay a huge war indemnity.
133 BCE
Attalus III, the last king of Pergamon, bequeathes the whole of Pergamon to Rome.
25 BCE
Galatia is peacefully absorbed into the Roman Empire.
42 CE - 62 CE
Paul the Apostle goes on missionary journeys across Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome.