Cappadocia History

If we express Cappadocia in a narrower area that has its own characteristics and beauties, we can say that it covers Avanos, Göreme, Uçhisar, Ürgüp, Çavuşin, Açıksaray, Ortahisar, Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı and Ihlara.

Examining the history of Ürgüp, whose history dates back to ancient times, is possible by turning the pages of the history of Cappadocia. It connects the west-east, north-south directions in ancient times, as it does today.

Macedonians (Alexander the Great), Romans, Fatih and Yavuzlar who went to the east, and the Ottoman sultans who followed them all passed through this region and made their supplies here. The region was called "Katpatuka" in the Assyrian period and "Cappadocia" in classical times. Ürgüp has been an area that cannot be shared between Etiler and Egyptians because it is covered with a tuff layer and it is very soft and it helps to protect it, and it has caused frequent wars due to its strategic importance. Having gathered the strategic value and the most favorable conditions bestowed upon it by nature, Ürgüp and its surroundings are proven by archaeological witnesses, historical records and living examples, where it led a very rich, passionate and colorful life in the past. Until the birth of science branches such as Hittitology, Sumerology, Physiology of Ancient Languages, our knowledge goes back to BC with the semi-legendary knowledge of Greek historians. It was not later than the first century. In the 19th century, it was possible to see the traces of settlement in Cappadocia, dating back to 5000-4000 BC, with the sciences mentioned above. The arrival of writing in Anatolia was spread by the Assyrians, who established commercial colonies in this region in 2000 BC. The Hittite Kingdom ruled in 1000 BC. Cappadocia, which was united with the Lydian Kingdom in the sixth century BC and was the scene of great civilization, later fell under Persian rule in 521 BC.

Macedonian King Alexander the Great, who passed through the region in 334 BC, came under the rule of Alexander the Great, and Alexander the Great appointed one of his commanders to administer this region on his behalf. Ariarrathes I, whom he commissioned, established the Kingdom of Cappadocia in 323 BC, and in this way, the Sovereign, Great Kingdom of Cappadocia took its place in the history pages and lived its brightest periods in Ürgüp, which is right in the region. The cities of Ürgüp, Kemerhisar and Kayseri are among the civilized cities of Cappadocia. During this period, nearly 30 thousand people lived in Ürgüp. The Kingdom of Cappadocia was invaded by the Romans in 27 BC and became a province of the Roman Empire. With the settlement of Christianity in this region, churches and chapels have been built by Christians since 53 AD, and the region has been a shelter for Christians who were persecuted in Jerusalem and Syria. Despite the persecution of the Pagan Rome, Christianity found the opportunity to develop in the Ürgüp region, and both the caves dug by the Etiler and the valleys formed as a result of volcanic and erosional activities became the shelter of the first Christians who escaped from persecution and death. After the religious freedom was given to the Christians in 336 AD, Christianity spread rapidly around Cappadocia and became the religious center of the priests who retreated to the column. Many churches that can be visited today have been built since the 5th century, and they began to be illustrated after the abolition of Iconoclasm in 842.

After the division of the Roman Empire in 395, Cappadocia fell to the share of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) empire. In the first periods, Cappadocia was in a quiet life away from external pressures. It remained a central province during the reign of Justinian (526-565). This happy period ended with the Sassanid raids at the beginning of the VII century. They faced Arab raids under the command of Maslama from the south. In the wars with the Arabs, it became the outpost of the Byzantine empire. During the periodical Arab raids, Kayseri was occupied twice in 647 and 726, in Ankara 838 and Kemerhisar 806. The Byzantine Empire was able to prevent Arab raids in the IX century. This critical period, which lasted about 250 years, caused the rock cappadocia to gain importance. Because the Christian people fleeing from the enemies migrated to these places and took shelter in the caves they carved in the rocks, on the valley slopes, underground. However, Sassanid and Arab raids were not the only reason in this century. The second reason for emigration was the oppression and resentment of Iconoclasm.

Iconoclasm, the use of depiction arts or not has been a matter of debate for a long time in Byzantium. The idea of embodying the concept of God in the Greeks and the abstract conception of God in the East have always been two conflicting understandings. Although Byzantium had an abstract God image, the people needed a concrete God image. Emperor III in 725. Leo outlawed the worship of images in 725. Many icons (pictures and statues of holy persons) were destroyed. In 842, Empress Theodora ended the ban on depictions. Today is celebrated as a feast day by the Orthodox. Under the influence of the atmosphere of peace and trust that prevailed in the middle of the X. and XI centuries, Kaya Cappadocia most beautiful works began to be given. The churches in Göreme Open Air Museum are the products of this period.

Cappadocia was connected to the Karamanoğlu Principality among the principalities that emerged as a result of the collapse of the Anatolian Seljuk State, which was established in 1080 after the 1071 Malazgirt War, under the influence of the Mongol raids. In this period, mosques, caravanserais, and madrasas began to appear alongside churches and monasteries. There was no conflict between the Muslim people and the Christian people. Turkish-Islamic sovereignty did not interfere with the religious thought and behavior of Christian communities. He was tolerant of them. During this period, the construction of the church continued. The "Broken Martyrs Church" in Şahinefendi Village is one of the last rock churches built in Cappadocia. (1216-1217) When Cappadocia fell under Ottoman rule, the Christian people abandoned their old active life. Rock churches and monasteries were evacuated. Ürgüp region has become the place of those who prefer the mystical life, as the erosional result creates a mystical spirit on people, and has become the retreat corners preferred by those who dream of the "Other World" to prepare for the life after death.