History of Konya

Settled life in and around Konya starts from the prehistoric period. Within this period we can see the cultures of Neolithic Calcolithic and early Bronze Era.
Höyükler, which are the inhabitancy areas of this period, are within the borders of Konya. The findings belonging to the Neolithic Period (7000-5500 BC) came out through the archeological excavations in Çatalhöyük.

In Karahöyük, which is within one of the regions of Konya today, inhabitancy of the Hittite is seen. The archeological excavations that have been carried out for many years give us findings that reflect this period.

Frigs who gave an end to the sovereignty of Hittite on Anatolia are the sects who have emigrated from Thrace to Anatolia. (The findings that were got from Alaaddin Hill, Karapinar, Gicikisla and Sizma belong to the seventh century BC). After the Frigians (Phrygians) Konya (Kavania) was invaded by Lydians and Iskender. Later on when the sovereignty of Rome was set Konya kept its existence as Ikonium (25 B.C.).

St. Paul Antiochia, one of the Christian saints who went up from Antalya to Anatolia, then came to Ikonium (Konya). At this period Hatunsaray Lystra-Derbe, Leodica and Sille were important settlement areas of Byzantines. With the spread of Islam in Anatolia Arabian raids started. The Ommayads and Abbasids raided over Konya.

After the Malazgirt war in 1071, as well as a large part of Anatolia, Konya was taken from Byzantines by Seljuks.

The Sultan of Anatolian Seljuks, Suleyman Shah, declared Konya as the capital city in 1076. In 1080 the capital city was transferred to Iznik, Kilic Aslan I carried the capital city to Konya in 1097. Konya, from 1097 to 1277, was capital city of Anatolian Seljuks.

Having been conquered by Kamanid Mehmed Bey, Konya went under the sovereignty of Karamanids. By conquering Konya Murad II one of the Ottoman sultans, gave an end to the sovereignty of Karamanians on Konya in 1442.

Konya continued its reputation and esteem during the Ottoman period. One of the Ottoman Sultans, Yavuz Sultan Selim, stayed in Konya during his campaigns to Iran and Egypt. Kanuni Sultan Süleyman stayed in Konya during his campaign to Iran and Murad IV during his campaign to Baghdad.

During the Republic Period, Konya became the largest province of the country. In spite of the fact that the city of Karaman which includes the districts of Ayranci, Ermenek, and Kazımkarabekir was separated from Konya with a law put forth in 1989, the city kept this special feature.

Konya, which is a neighbor city of Ankara, Niğde, Aksaray, Icel, Antalya, Isparta, Afyon, Eskisehir and Karaman on the central Anatolia High plateau of 39,000 km2, occupies a place between 36o22’ and 39o08’ northern parallels and 31o14’ and 34o05’ Eastern meridians. Its traffic code is 42, Municipality of Konya founded in 1876 achieved the status of being “major city” according to the law numbered 3030 that was put forth in 1984. Since 1989 municipality services have been carried out according to this status.

According to the census done in 1990, the total population of Karatay district to which two sub districts and twenty nine villages are connected, is 169,000 and its central population is 142,678.

The total population of Meram district to which three sub districts and thirty five villages are connected, is 213,644 and its central population is 182,444.

The total population of Selçuk district which has two sub districts and twenty nine villages is 202,154 and its central population is 188,244. According to the census done in 1980 the total population of Konya is 1,750,303 and it is the fifth city after Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Adana.

Alaeddin Hill is a tumulus which hides relies of 400 years under it. Once upon a time, it attracted attention not as an area of settlement but as an area where the richness of history, culture and nature were protected and a place where people’s needs of having a rest were met. In the north of the hill Alaeddin Mosque has the pleasure of meeting its people after efforts of restoration that lasted for many years.

The mausoleum that has the sarcophagus of eight Seljuk Sultans, first and fore most Alaeddin Keykubat’s, is in the courtyard of the mosque. If you stand on the eastern part of the hill, next to the Monument of Martyrs you will see the Mevlana Dervish Convent with its green, eye-catching dome at the end of the dual carriage way lying in front of you. You can also see the minarets of Sultan Selim Mosque which was built by one of the Ottoman Sultans, Selim II, on the right side of Mevlana Dervish Convent which has been used as a museum since 1926.

The tram which is a cheap and clean vehicle of public transportation carried its 65,000 passengers with its railway wagon that made 300 trips from 06:00 till 24:00 on a route of 10,5 km. With the rise of wagons to 41, trips to 450, the length of the route to 18,5 km, the passenger capacity has increased to 120,000.

Konya, with its historical works, is a city that seems like an open-air museum.

source: selcuk(dot)edu(dot)tr