Lydia was a region of western Asia Minor which prospered due to its natural resources and position on trading routes between the Mediterranean and Asia. The Kingdom of Lydia flourished in the 7th and 6th centuries BCE and expanded to its greatest extent during the reign of Croesus, famed for his great wealth. Lydia then became a Persian satrapy with its capital at Sardis. Conquered by Alexander the Great, Lydia was absorbed into the Seleucid Empire in the Hellenistic Period. Part of the Roman province of Asia, Lydia was made a separate province in the 3rd century CE.
More about: LydiaDefinition
Timeline
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1200 BCELydia arises as a Neo-Hittite kingdom.
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1185 BCE - 687 BCEHeraclid dynasty rules Lydia.
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c. 700 BCE - 546 BCEThe Mermnad dynasty rules Lydia.
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687 BCE - 652 BCEKing Gyges rules Lydia and expands its borders. Sardis becomes Lydian capital.
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c. 685 BCE - 546 BCEMermnad Dynasty rules Lydia.
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c. 635 BCE - 585 BCEReign of Alyattes of Lydia. Minting of first coins made from electrum.
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c. 625 BCELydia drives back the Cimmerians and conquers Phrygia.
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c. 600 BCEGordium becomes part of Lydia.
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28 May 585 BCEA battle between Media and Lydia broke off immediately as a result of a total eclipse of the sun and the two armies made peace. The eclipse was successfully predicted by Thales of Miletus.
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560 BCEThe oracles of Delphi and Thebes both tell King Croesus of Lydia that if he attacks the Medes, he will destroy a great empire. Seeing this as a good omen, he goes to war, loses, and the Lydian Empire is destroyed.
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560 BCE - 546 BCEReign of Croesus of Lydia.
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c. 550 BCE - c. 430 BCEConstruction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
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c. 498 BCEIonians and Greek allies invade and burn Sardis (capital of Lydia).
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334 BCESardis surrenders to Alexander the Great.
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280 BCELydia becomes a part of the Seleucid Empire.
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133 BCELydia and its captial Sardis comes under Roman rule.
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17 BCEAn earthquake destroys 12 cities in Lydia, including Sardis.
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124 CERoman emperor Hadrian visits Lydia.
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215 CERoman emperor Caracalla visits Lydia.
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615 CESardis is sacked by Sassanian Persians; damage is never repaired
