History of Eskişehir

From the time when the human race changed from the hunter-nomad way of life to grower-settler society i.e. from the neolithic era until the present day the territory of Eskişehir has been home to many civilations. Approximately five thosund years ago small groups of people founded their first settlements on the fertile grounds of Eskişehir. After 2000 B.C. at the time when the Hittite empire was founded in Anotolia, Eskişehir bacame a principality. In the 12 th century B.C. the Phrygians moved in from Thrace and conquered Central Anatolia where they founded a United Kingdom. Eskişehir became a prosperous commercial and cultural centre under the name of Dorylaion. Many monuments has been preserved from those days.The Phrygian rule weakened in the 6 th century and cosequently the land was taken over by Lydians, who minted the first coins thus faciliating commerce. The Lydians built and guarded the "King's Road", which ran from Sardis to Nivevch. This historic road passed near Dorylaion and helped Lydia grow, but at the same time it helped the Persians conquer the whole country in 546 B.C. The Persian rule persisted until the battle at the river of Gronikos in May 334 B. C., where Alexander the Great of Macedonia licked the hell out of the Persian generals. Alexander died in 333 B. C. After having ruled the region only for a short period of time. During the days of confusion that followed Alexander's death crowded groups of Greeks moved in to settle on the fertile land around Eskişehir, and thus began Hellenistic era. Later between the years of 190 B. C. and 395 A. D. Romans ruled Dorylaion, or Dorylaeum as the Romans called it. They used the town as a spa and as a centre of entertainment. As the Roman empire split into two, Eskişehir came under Byzantium until it was finally conqured by Selijuks in 1074. The "Kings Road" was used by Crusaders during the Cruades, which began in 1096, so that Eskişehir (Dorylaeum) became the scene of numerous battles and frequently changed hands. At this time the Arabs call the town Duruliye, while the Selijuks call it Sultanönü or Sultanhöyüğü. In 1289 Osman Bey gets hold of the town, which due to its ruinous appearence was the named "Eskişehir" meaning "Old Town". The town remained under Turkish role until the present days During World War I. Now, Eskişehir is an agricultural, conumercial and cultural center.

source: alkara(dot)com